Zack Martin enters his eleventh season nonetheless a few of the best guards within the NFL. Whilst Martin’s greatness has been a relentless function for the Cowboys over the past decade, it’s been some time because the offensive line as an entire may say the similar. With new items in position, can Martin lead his workforce again to elite standing in 2024?
Because the sixteenth pick out within the 2014 NFL Draft, Martin was once all the time anticipated to be just right. However no one may’ve projected the moment affect he had in Dallas. Already in position have been OT Tyron Smith and C Travis Frederick; Smith had simply long past to his first Professional Bowl in 2013 and Frederick was once probably the most best rookie offensive linemen that yr. However they weren’t sufficient to get the Cowboys over the 8-8 hump that they have been caught on from 2011-2013.
If truth be told, Martin’s debut was once the one trade at the offensive line from the yr prior to. Ronald Leary and Doug Unfastened, the starters at left guard and proper take on in his rookie season, had the similar roles prior to now. Martin’s arrival put journeyman Mackenzy Bernadeau at the bench; a transfer that took proper guard from moderate to superior and gave the impression to lift all of the line, plus the remainder of the Cowboys’ offense.
It was once that yr when RB DeMarco Murray exploded for 1,845 dashing yards, breaking Emmitt Smith’s single-season report. With a dominant run recreation and stepped forward coverage, QB Tony Romo had his occupation bests in finishing touch share and passer ranking, amongst different potency stats. Even with a sub-par protection that season, Dallas’ elite offense carried the staff to a 12-4 report, plus its first department name and playoff victory beneath Jason Garrett.
That very same line was once nonetheless buzzing two years later when the Cowboys went 13-3 with novices Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott main the way in which. Whilst Leary and Unfastened have been on their closing legs, the trio of Smith, Frederick, and Martin remained the gold requirements at their positions. Even with number one receiving choices like WR Dez Bryant and TE Jason Witten beginning to decline, Dallas was once ready to keep watch over video games at the flooring and make issues easy for his or her surprising rookie starter at quarterback.
Issues began to move down from there for the offensive line. Smith’s annual damage problems started in 2016 and handiest worsened with time. Frederick neglected the 2018 season with a neurological dysfunction and retired two years later. Dallas were given some sturdy years out of L. a.’el Collins, however were given lackluster effects from draft choices like Connor Williams and Connor McGovern, plus a complete bust in 2015 pick out Chaz Inexperienced. Even with Martin nonetheless keeping up his All-Professional recognition yr after yr, the mess around him simply by no means were given again to these height years.
Dallas is hoping that can trade this season. Martin is one among two elite items at the line, joined through third-year stud Tyler Smith as the opposite guard. Veteran Terence Steele is again at proper take on and reportedly having a look extra like his top, pre-injury self once more. Steele got here again from a significant knee damage closing yr and was once noticeably suffering early, however stepped forward because the season went and turns out to have carried that into 2024. On the very least, if we’re evaluating this to the 2014-2016 generation, he must be as just right as Doug Unfastened was once.
The important thing to getting the road again to greatness would be the set up of 2 rookie starters in LT Tyler Guyton, their first-round pick out, and third-round C Cooper Beebe. Asking those kids to only be competent doesn’t really feel like a tall activity after their sturdy offseasons, however we will be able to’t ensure till the actual video games start. Changing Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz at their respective place regardless that, particularly in 12 months One, is any other subject.
Dallas let each veterans stroll in closing spring’s unfastened company. Smith had a resurgent 2023 marketing campaign, handiest lacking 4 video games and returning to the All-Professional staff. However the Cowboys didn’t need to pay his asking worth given the top possibility of absences, particularly in what’s going to now be Smith’s 14th season. They have been in a position for a contemporary get started at left take on and Guyton, whilst handiest the twenty ninth pick out total, is already having a look the a part of any other nice Cowboys offensive lineman.
At heart, Biadasz was once forged however by no means the Travis Frederick alternative folks unreasonably was hoping for. Dallas is now hoping that Beebe, a extra highly-regarded prospect popping out of the draft than Biadasz was once, can lift the placement at a fragment of what it could have price to stay the veteran. So long as he can maintain snapping tasks right through the season with out incident, Beebe appears to be like poised to be a standout run blocker in an instant and may beef up on Biadasz’s paintings whilst a rookie.
Those are top hopes, certainly, however they appear extra cheap finally we’ve noticed from and heard in regards to the learners this summer time. Fortunately, those novices have a fantastic mentor in teammate Zack Martin. Like when he debuted in 2014, Guyton and Beebe have the possible to boost the Cowboys’ offensive line to any other degree. Who higher to assist them be nice proper out of the gate than him?
When Martin arrived in Dallas, Tyron Smith and Frederick have been handiest of their fourth and 2nd seasons and simply beginning to get league-wide popularity. Martin has the chance to offer Guyton and Beebe one thing he didn’t have as a rookie; the long-term revel in of a well-established legend. When Martin speaks, those children already know they’re being attentive to a long run Corridor of Famer.
Past serving to his younger teammates, Martin’s management in 2024 should also come at the box. Turning 34 in November, he’s allowed to turn some age like every other participant. But when the Cowboys’ offensive line goes to get again to dominance this season then it’s going to most probably rely on Martin and Tyler Smith’s play lifting Steele and the novices round them. Despite the fact that additionally they finally end up subsequent to Martin in Canton someday, Guyton and Beebe are allowed to revel in rising pains. The ones might be mitigated if the 2 guards are as soon as once more a few of the NFL elite.
For the reason that Zack Martin has already introduced up retirement, 2024 could possibly be his closing NFL season. If that is so, we will be able to handiest hope that it supplies a becoming bookend to his illustrious occupation. He was once the lacking piece that made the Cowboys’ offensive line particular as a rookie. Now, Martin can also be the veteran chief for a brand new generation with thrilling younger novices becoming a member of the beginning lineup. If Dallas goes to do the rest memorable this season, Martin and the offensive line are going to be a key explanation why.