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Zack Martin set to cash in this summer after free agency payday
2:45 PM ET
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
FRISCO, Texas – As you continue to wait for the Dallas Cowboys to do something – anything – in free agency, you should know that Thursday was a good day for Zack Martin.
The Cowboys will place the fifth-year option on Martin, their All-Pro right guard, this spring but already have eyes on a huge extension for him this summer.
Executive vice president Stephen Jones said Martin is the Cowboys’ top priority to re-sign. There have been small discussions with Martin’s agents, Tom Condon and R.J. Gonser, but nothing formal. (An interesting aside is Condon and Gonser represent Tony Romo as well).
Zack Martin can point to the deal G Kevin Zeitler just signed with the Browns as a starting point for the Cowboys.*Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire
“We’ll probably work on that more before camp and during camp, that type of thing,” Jones said.
So why was Thursday a good day for Martin?
The Cleveland Browns signed guard Kevin Zeitler to a five-year, $60 million deal that includes $31.5 million in guarantees. Zeitler became the NFL’s highest-paid guard.
He could have that designation for a few months because Martin almost certainly will supersede that, and deservedly so.
Martin is perhaps the Cowboys’ best decision in a decade. Go back to the 2014 draft when Jerry Jones was all hot and bothered for Johnny Manziel. He raised the question of selecting Manziel in the first round the morning of the draft and raised it again as the Heisman Trophy winner kept sliding in the draft.
When the Cowboys were on the clock, Jerry Jones once again mentioned Manziel’s name. He was met with silence.
The Cowboys turned in Martin’s name and all he has done has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first three seasons, been named All Pro in two of his first three seasons and helped DeMarco Murray (2014) and Ezekiel Elliott (2016) lead the league in rushing.
An argument can be made that he is the Cowboys best lineman, even if the left tackle spot manned by Tyron Smith is more important.
The Cowboys have been able to sign Smith and Travis Frederick to multi-year extensions before they had to use the fifth-year option. Smith became one of the highest-paid left tackles. Frederick became one of the highest-paid centers.
Martin will soon become the highest-paid guard.
Any guess at Zeitler’s agents: Condon and Gonser.
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Gee I wonder if Zack is happy about this news.
2:45 PM ET
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
FRISCO, Texas – As you continue to wait for the Dallas Cowboys to do something – anything – in free agency, you should know that Thursday was a good day for Zack Martin.
The Cowboys will place the fifth-year option on Martin, their All-Pro right guard, this spring but already have eyes on a huge extension for him this summer.
Executive vice president Stephen Jones said Martin is the Cowboys’ top priority to re-sign. There have been small discussions with Martin’s agents, Tom Condon and R.J. Gonser, but nothing formal. (An interesting aside is Condon and Gonser represent Tony Romo as well).
Zack Martin can point to the deal G Kevin Zeitler just signed with the Browns as a starting point for the Cowboys.*Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire
“We’ll probably work on that more before camp and during camp, that type of thing,” Jones said.
So why was Thursday a good day for Martin?
The Cleveland Browns signed guard Kevin Zeitler to a five-year, $60 million deal that includes $31.5 million in guarantees. Zeitler became the NFL’s highest-paid guard.
He could have that designation for a few months because Martin almost certainly will supersede that, and deservedly so.
Martin is perhaps the Cowboys’ best decision in a decade. Go back to the 2014 draft when Jerry Jones was all hot and bothered for Johnny Manziel. He raised the question of selecting Manziel in the first round the morning of the draft and raised it again as the Heisman Trophy winner kept sliding in the draft.
When the Cowboys were on the clock, Jerry Jones once again mentioned Manziel’s name. He was met with silence.
The Cowboys turned in Martin’s name and all he has done has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first three seasons, been named All Pro in two of his first three seasons and helped DeMarco Murray (2014) and Ezekiel Elliott (2016) lead the league in rushing.
An argument can be made that he is the Cowboys best lineman, even if the left tackle spot manned by Tyron Smith is more important.
The Cowboys have been able to sign Smith and Travis Frederick to multi-year extensions before they had to use the fifth-year option. Smith became one of the highest-paid left tackles. Frederick became one of the highest-paid centers.
Martin will soon become the highest-paid guard.
Any guess at Zeitler’s agents: Condon and Gonser.
------------
Gee I wonder if Zack is happy about this news.
