Thanks to a new-look deal, the Dallas Cowboys are welcoming back All-Pro guard Zack Martin after a brief training camp holdout.
Two days ago, at AT&T Stadium, Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys‘ team took in on the chin as the Jacksonville Jaguars came away with a 28-23 victory.
On Monday afternoon, the Dallas Cowboys came up with a huge win (the details via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).
Cowboys and All-Pro guard/team captain Zack Martin reached agreement on a reworked deal, per sources. The new deal will pay him north of $18 million in each of the next two years. Martin was scheduled to be at $13.5 million this year and $14 million next year, so it’s an… pic.twitter.com/zszAxiVAR8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 14, 2023
That’s awfully good news for a team looking to make the playoffs for a third consecutive season. That’s something that the franchise hasn’t experienced in roughly three decades. Under Jimmy Johnson and later Barry Switzer, the Cowboys reached the postseason six straight years from 1991-96. Of course, three of those seasons ended with Super Bowl victories.
Talk about consistency? The former Notre Dame standout was the 16th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. During his rookie campaign, he started all 16 games, earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors and was Pro Football Focus’ fifth-ranked guard.
As he enters his 10th season in the National Football League. Martin is an eight-time Pro Bowler and has been named First-Team All-Pro in six of his nine campaigns. For those who appreciate the information from the fine folks at PFF (subscription required), the 32-year-old pro has been a Top 10 performer (via their rankings) every year he’s been in the league.
What’s ironic is that Martin is coming off a year in which he managed his lowest grade (72.8) by the site. However, it was still good enough to finish ninth in the NFL at his position.
There have been some positives this month when it comes to McCarthy’s club. Veteran tackle Tyron Smith will be returning to his familiar spot on the left side. There’s certainly hope that the eight-time Pro Bowler can start every game for the first time since 2015.
Perhaps more significantly, the team has Zack Martin back at camp and in the fold. That should have quarterback Dak Prescott and the entire team breathing a sigh of relief.