Since the previous offseason, Zack Martin’s ties with the Dallas Cowboys have hit a snag due to a trade dispute. He expressed frustration over his less lucrative deal, creating tension between him and the team’s owner, who stood firm in delivering a stern message.
Following this challenging period, the Cowboys opted for a different approach this time around. Before the trade deadline, they extended a new deal to the All-Pro guard. This move not only addressed the previous concerns but also proved beneficial by contributing to the team’s cap space savings.
Zack Martin’s new deal saves Cowboys $13M cap space
The Dallas Cowboys are in a salary cap crunch as the NFL season looms. To address this, they’ve made a shrewd move by restructuring Zack Martin’s contract. This savvy maneuver creates much-needed breathing room, freeing up a significant $13 million for the Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys restructured guard Zack Martin’s contract, converting some of his base salary into a signing bonus. This maneuver creates more salary cap space for the team. Martin’s cap hit will now be around $15.9 million, according to Over the Cap.
Due to this restructuring, the Cowboys are now comfortably under the cap threshold, with about $1.8 million in cap space remaining. This is crucial for the team as they make preparations for the upcoming season.
Running back Ezekiel Martin secured his future with the Dallas Cowboys by inking a contract extension. The deal adds three voidable years to his current contract, keeping him on the team well beyond this season. This move is crucial for the Cowboys’ offensive line, which recently took a hit with left tackle Tyron Smith leaving via free agency.
With Martin’s contract sorted, the team can now focus on other important matters, such as signing key players like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb to contract extensions.
Is Zack Martin a future Hall of Famer?
Since the Dallas Cowboys drafted Zack Martin in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, he’s become a cornerstone on the offensive line, anchoring their protection for Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. With a decade in the league under his belt, there’s little doubt Martin is on track for Canton and a place among the game’s all-time greats.
Over his remarkable career, the 33-year-old has earned nine Pro Bowl honors and a spot on one of the two All-Pro teams an astounding nine times. The lone exception was the 2020 season, when he played in only 10 games.
The vet guard has been a first-teamer seven times, showcasing his consistent excellence, especially in the last three years. He is widely acknowledged as one of the premier guards and offensive linemen in the NFL.
Martin’s impact goes beyond personal accolades as he has contributed to quarterback Dak Prescott’s stellar performance in the last season. Despite sitting out two games, he played a pivotal role in Prescott’s impressive statistics, including 4,516 passing yards and a league-leading 36 passing touchdowns.
With a legacy defined by excellence, leadership, and consistent performance, Zack Martin’s journey in the NFL continues to be an attestation to his Hall of Fame-worthy contributions to the game.
