SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - The San Francisco 49ers have selected USC center Marcus Martin with the 70th overall pick in the NFL draft’s third round.
Martin could compete for time at center or guard on a veteran offensive line challenged with protecting one of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks in Colin Kaepernick.
The 6-foot-3, 321-pound Martin is credited for using his long arms to keep opposing defenders at bay. The Niners lost starting center Jonathan Goodwin, who had yet to sign with a new team.
In a busy day already for general manager Trent Baalke on Friday, San Francisco chose Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde earlier in the second round after pulling off a trade with Buffalo to get wideout Stevie Johnson to fill a key need in the receiving corps.
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