In the mayhem of a head coaching search and a new staff, one of the most important parts of this Cowboys offseason hasn’t been discussed nearly enough: the future of All-Pro Guard, Zack Martin.
At 34 years old, Martin has been open about his thoughts on retirement. Last year, he candidly admitted that the 2024 season could be his last.
While he’s still a key player on the field and in the locker room, his performance has slipped.
That’s to be expected from an offensive lineman of Martin’s age, but it does raise a serious question about his future in 2025. He could retire, sign an extension with Dallas, or join a new team in free agency.
Martin said that himself in a new interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Let’s take a close look at each of these three options and what could ultimately lay ahead for Cowboys legend, Zack Martin.
Staying Home: Contract Extension In Dallas
The best answer for Cowboys fans, and perhaps the most likely one, is that Martin will sign a contract extension to stay in Dallas.
He did sign a reworked contract in 2023, which locked him in on a 2-year, $36M deal.
That has now expired, and it’s fair to assume a hypothetical next contract for Martin would be shorter, and cheaper. After all, if he does decide to come back, it likely won’t be for more than the 2025 season.
This fact is what makes a return to Dallas possible. The Cowboys don’t want to spend, but Martin may only cost 1-year, $10M, or so.
It’s also hard to see him, after 11 years in Dallas, uproot everything and head elsewhere.
That did happen with former Cowboy Jason Witten, but that was after a bunch of Dallas staff members headed out west to Las Vegas. That kind of situation doesn’t exist right now, so Martin would be in a new environment.
Don’t let his slight decline fool you: retaining Zack Martin is key to the Cowboys’ 2025 success, both on the field and off.
Shades Of Tyron: Could Martin Go Elsewhere?
Not even a year ago, we saw a 13-year Cowboy veteran offensive lineman leave in free agency. The same set of circumstances could result in a Martin departure this offseason.
Tyron Smith is a franchise legend for Dallas, but when the time came to pay him at 34 years old, they tapped out when other teams got to bidding.
With their “tight budget” strategy, the price became too high for the Cowboys to touch, and ultimately Smith left town for New York on a 1-year deal that’s maximum value was up to $20M.
In hindsight, it was for the best for Dallas to pass, as Smith’s one year with the Jets was marked by injuries and lackluster performance.
However, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a gamble, and it also doesn’t mean it would go the same way with Martin.
Teams won’t be scared to bid on him if he hits the open market; good offensive linemen are a rare commodity, and a competitive organization may want to see if they can get one more great year from him.
In short, if the Cowboys aren’t careful, Zack Martin could also jump ship for a new uniform.
The Frederick Route: Retirement Time For Martin?
That dominant early-2010s Cowboys offensive line was headed by Martin, Smith, and All-Pro Travis Frederick. To this point, only the latter has hung up the cleats, but that fact may not last very long.
We cannot discount the possibility of Martin retiring; he has been considering it for a while, and it could happen at any time.
He’s recovering from ankle surgery, has a new coaching staff coming in, and surely knows his performance isn’t what it used to be.
He may not want to stick around to see what the 2025 season will look and feel like.
You can’t blame him, either. Martin has given his all to the organization, and he may just be tired. He’s taken pay cuts, battled through injuries, and never indulged in the drama that so often surrounds the Dallas Cowboys.
Martin doesn’t need another year in Dallas as much as Dallas needs another year of him.
Canton is in his future regardless of what route he takes, but the 2025 Cowboys season will be heavily impacted by the looming decision by Zack Martin.