Damien Martinez was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Standing at 6'0" and weighing 217 pounds, Martinez is known for his physical running style and having plenty of production throughout his college career. The Seahawks have drafted multiple Miami players of late, with the most recent being TE Elijah Arroyo in the second round on Friday.
Let's run the rock. With the 223rd pick, we've selected RB Damien Martinez! #GoHawks x @lumentechco pic.twitter.com/BG6wOseMxH
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 26, 2025
Martinez made an immediate impact as a freshman at Oregon State, rushing for 982 yards on 161 carries with 7 touchdowns, earning Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. In his sophomore season he improved further, amassing 1,185 rushing yards and securing First-Team All-Pac-12 recognition for the second consecutive year. In his two seasons as a Beaver he totaled 2,167 yards and 16 touchdowns on 6.1 YPC.
Martinez transferred to Miami for his junior year and continued his impressive performances by leading the team with 1,002 rushing yards on 159 carries and scored 10 touchdowns. He was able to showcase his ability to adapt to a new offensive system while maintaining high productivity.
Martinez excels at breaking tackles and gaining yards after contact, averaging 4.46 yards after contact per carry, which ranked among the best in his draft class. Throughout his college career, Martinez proved to be a reliable and durable back, handling a significant workload without major injuries. At the NFL Combine, Martinez recorded a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, which is solid speed for a back of his size.
The Seahawks value physical, downhill runners, and Martinez fits this mold perfectly. His ability to gain tough yards between the tackles and maintain ball security makes him a strong candidate for short-yardage and goal-line situations. While he may begin his NFL career as a complementary back, he could develop into a more prominent role within Seattle's offense.