Blake Martinez officially signed on the dotted line with the New York Giants on Monday. During his introductory teleconference, the former Packers linebacker, described his role in Mike Pettine’s defense and Green Bay’s value of the position.
Martinez’s deal with the Giants is for three years at $30 million dollars, according to multiple reports. Meanwhile the Packers reportedly brought in free agent linebacker Christian Kirksey for two years at $16 million dollars and $4 million guaranteed.
The value the Packers are paying at the position is certainly different between the two deals.
On Monday, Martinez said his discussions with the Packers indicated they weren’t going to offer as much as the Giants.

“I think the way they value the inside linebacker position especially in that defense, it wasn’t as valued as other places I guess in my opinion,” Blake Martinez said.
“Overall, it was one of the things where they offered me, and we were just in different wave lengths on where I valued myself and where they valued it. At the end of the day, it was one of the decisions that had to be made on both sides. It’s a business and right now I am extremely happy where I am and can’t wait to start playing for the Giants and finally get into the facility.”
Martinez also described his role in the Packers defensive scheme under Mike Pettine as being more of a “clean-up crew guy,” and play off the others on the field.
The fourth year linebacker out of Stanford started all 16 regular season games for the Packers in each of the last three seasons. During that time he led the Packers in tackles, including a career high 155 combined tackles in 2019.