Dallas Cowboys: Zack Martin deal should be top priority

In the 2018 offseason, the top priority for the Dallas Cowboys is to agree to a long-term deal with right guard Zack Martin.

The clock is ticking for the Dallas Cowboys and right guard Zack Martin to eventually work out a long-term deal. The ultimate goal for the organization is to agree upon a deal so that Martin, who has one year left on his current contract, can continue to make rushing paths and pass protect in a Cowboys uniform.

There are others who are also currently looking for a new deal of sorts for the Cowboys as well, including wide receiver Dez Bryant. For what Martin brings to the team each and every week in terms of productivity on the field and being one of the best at his position, though, the Cowboys need to put their focus on Martin.

The two parties are meeting at the NFL Combine to possibly get a deal worked out for the long term. And there is no doubt it will take a lot of funds from the Cowboys to get the job done.

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In a chart made by OvertheCap.com, the highest-paid right guard in the NFL currently is Cleveland’s Kevin Zeitler at $60 million, with an average of $12 million per year, plus $23 million guaranteed. Currently, Martin is 23rd on the list at $8.967 million per year.

Even former Cowboys offensive lineman Ronald Leary, who signed his contract last offseason, is being paid $36 million by the Denver Broncos at $9 million per year with a total guarantee of $18 million. Just looking at the chart, by the time all is said and done, Martin should be at the top of the list if the Cowboys want to keep their former first-round choice.

So saying it will take over $23 million in guaranteed money to keep Martin, that would be an investment well made by the Cowboys because Martin is just as important to the offensive line of the Cowboys as left tackle Tyron Smith and center Travis Frederick. That trio is the lifeblood of the Cowboys offense, and it would be a shame to see a player with the abilities of Martin have to find a new home if a contract wasn’t to be able worked out. There are plenty of teams in the NFL who wouldn’t bat an eye to pay Martin the type of money Zeitler is receiving from the Browns.

Martin — who was graded at 92 (out of 100) by Pro Football Focus Edge in 2017 — has the credentials deserving of being possibly the highest-paid offensive guard in the NFL. The 6-4, 308-pound lineman has been named an All-Pro by the Associated Press four times, including twice a first-team All-Pro, plus is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and has been named an All-Pro by the Pro Football Writers Association, the Sporting News and Pro Football Focus.

Also since joining the Cowboys in 2014, Martin has yet to miss a game, playing in all 64 regular-season games and has blocked for three different 1,000 yard running backs in DeMarco Murray, Darren McFadden and Ezekiel Elliott.

Being 27 years old, Martin has a good portion of his career ahead, and with the Cowboys having solid players in quarterback Dak Prescott and Elliott at running back, the franchise needs to keep the Big 3 of their offensive line together.

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Though it will take a lot of spending by the Cowboys to keep the talented players they’ve drafted over the years in what will be their second contracts with the franchise, the plan of being champions once again might not go as smoothly if the franchise doesn’t work out a long-term deal with Martin, as players of his caliber aren’t easy to find.