There has been some talk about the new defensive coordinator’s fit with the Cowboys since his style is different from the previous two DCs with the team. However, Matt Eberflus’ hopes to continue the reputation of the defense being able to force turnovers. “Yeah, pretty simple – we take the ball away, that’s what we do. We stop the run. And we want to make exciting plays for our football team. That’s really what we do.” That’s great news for a team that has been one of the best defenses in the league in taking the ball away under former DC Dan Quinn, and something that aided the team’s defensive turnaround last season. The Cowboys were a different team when Mike Zimmer’s unit began taking the ball away more, even with a depleted roster. The challenge for Eberflus and the philosophy he mentioned, is stopping the run. The Cowboys’ defense have been one of the worst against the run in the last handful of seasons, so it’s not going to be easy turning things around in that area. Considering the lack of talent on the interior of the defensive line, Eberflus’ job is even tougher. The veteran DC spoke about being sound fundamentally as a key to stopping the run, but also acknowledged better personnel helps. That’s something the Cowboys currently lack, but perhaps Eberflus can get more out of his defense than the previous two coordinators. An ability to keep forcing turnovers, while also stopping the run would warrant a huge high-five from the Cowboys and their fans.
Cowboys need to look into acquiring veteran guard Will Hernandez to replace Zack Martin
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images This would be a great replacement for the future Hall of Famer. The 2025 season was always up in the air for nine time All-Pro Zack Martin. After 11 seasons, it was clear that the wear and tear of the NFL grind were starting to get to him, and he even had to be shut down with a season-ending ankle injury. On Thursday, the inevitable finally happened when Martin informed the team of his retirement from the NFL. The Cowboys have some internal options like Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass to replace him at right guard. However, they could add a different player in free agency. Veteran guard Will Hernandez is a former first-round pick of the New York Giants. After four years in the Big Apple, Hernandez has spent the last three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, and he’s now an unrestricted free agent. With a market value projected at $4.3 million, Hernandez is a cheap option that fits the Cowboys free agency mode. He is coming off a torn ACL, which limited him to five games in 2024, and he also missed four games in 2022 with a pectoral injury. This is why he can be signed for so cheap, which again goes right in line with how Dallas does business. The Cowboys have a strong tie to Hernandez. Their new offensive coordinator, Klayton Adams, was the offensive line coach for the Cardinals for the previous two seasons and worked with Hernandez directly. Together, they completely flipped the Cardinals offensive line around and turned it into one of the more respectable units in the NFL. So, Hernandez already knows how Adams likes to get things done and what his philosophy is. Once the Cowboys brought Adams in, Hernandez praised the move, calling him the right guy. Had a great conversation with Arizona OL Will Hernandez — a free agent this offseason — about Klayton Adams. I’ll share the full interview tomorrow, but first here’s a teaser: “I’m telling you: you got the right guy.” https://t.co/tIj6DZUQYA pic.twitter.com/auKJql7nPK — Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) February 4, 2025 Hernandez plays with the toughness and tenacity that the Cowboys desperately need in the trenches. He’s been a steady performer with 91 starts in 97 career games. If Dallas made this move, Hernandez would be an immediate starter at right guard that would solidify the interior of the Cowboys offensive line with Cooper Beebe at center and Tyler Smith at left guard. It would also allow the Cowboys to pick up another tackle earlier in April’s NFL draft if they choose to. There are plenty of dots that connect Hernandez to the Cowboys, and he’ll certainly be a name to watch for them once the free agency frenzy begins.
Zack Martin added to list of Cowboys from this era who never reached the Super Bowl
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The careers of so many Cowboys would look different if there was more success in the playoffs. Father time is cruel and eventually comes for us all. After it was reported that Dallas Cowboys‘ longtime right guard, Zack Martin, would be retiring, there was no debate on social media about whether he was a Hall of Fame player—it is simply a fact that he will be. The unfortunate part about Martin and many other Cowboys greats of this era is that they never got close to reaching the Super Bowl. With Washington reaching the NFC Championship this year, Dallas officially has the title of longest drought for reaching the championship game for an NFC team. With 30 years passing, many cornerstone players have dawned The Star in Dallas but never had the opportunity to place their name in the lore of the National Football League. #Cowboys legacy players of this era to never make a Super Bowl with Dallas: – Tony Romo– Jason Witten– Zack Martin– DeMarcus Ware– Tyron Smith– Dez Bryant– Sean Lee– Travis Frederick– Ezekiel Elliott Legacies could have been different. pic.twitter.com/gYan4spSL8 — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) February 20, 2025 This list could grow depending on the Cowboys’ success under Brian Schottenheimer. DeMarcus Lawrence is a free agent, so if the team decides not to re-sign him this offseason, he could be listed after Martin’s. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are in their prime and under contract for four more seasons. Could this be their last ride in Dallas before they move on to another team or retire? There is never enough discussion about the team that walks away from the Super Bowl empty-handed and on the other side of the win column. You never know when your team will make it back. That game and moment could have been their only shot at the Lombardi Trophy. Look at the Joe Burrow-led Cincinnati Bengals. They might have one of the league’s top three quarterbacks and have not returned to the big game since 2021 after losing to the Los Angeles Rams. Zack Martin’s best shot at an NFC Championship game, let alone a Super Bowl, came during his rookie season (2014), and two years later, Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott led the charge as rookie sensations. That was it. Dallas had three consecutive 12-win seasons under Mike McCarthy from 2021-2023, but Dallas lost two Wild Card games at home and on the road in the Divisional Round to the San Francisco 49ers. To restore hope for the Cowboys fanbase, Micah Parsons is making it known that Martin will be the last cornerstone player of his era to not make a run at the Super Bowl. That list is coming to an end!!! https://t.co/cBMiShz75M — Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) February 20, 2025 Since joining the Cowboys, Parsons has believed he can be the best and make a deep run in the postseason every year. Parsons has been vocal this offseason about the team’s need to spend in free agency and about trying to trade for Myles Garrett. It will be a step in the right direction if the Cowboys do anything more than the bare minimum, as they did in 2023. When a defense has an elite pass rusher like Parsons on the roster, there should be Super Bowl expectations every season. When an offensive line is the strength of a team centered around a player like Martin, Super Bowl expectations should follow. Unfortunately for Martin, he will now sit on the couch at home with his family if Parsons helps Dallas change the narrative in 2025 or beyond.
ESPN advises Cowboys make $94.5 million move, give defender early extension
ESPN advises Cowboys make $94.5 million move, give defender early extension K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys are locked in with cornerback Trevon Diggs, but things haven’t exactly worked out for the best. The former second-round pick out of the University of Alabama set the world on fire in his first three years of the league, recording the most interceptions in a season in 30 years with 11 in 2021. His work was rewarded with him signing a five-year extension ahead of the 2023 season that secured with function guarantees through the 2025 season and a deal that doesn’t run out until 2029. But Diggs has hardly seen the field since that contract was signed, missing all but two games in 2023 and missing six in 2024. Along that timeline, the Cowboys discovered a Day 3 cornerback pick who was just as tremendous in Fresno State’s DaRon Bland. Bland followed up Diggs’ phenomenal success by securing nine interceptions in 2023, returning an NFL record five of them for scores. Together they’ve combined for three Pro Bowls and two First-Team All-Pro nods in their combined eight years of service; an impressive start for a dynamic duo. The Cowboys haven’t gotten the bang for the buck out of Diggs’ extension, but should that impact how they approach Bland? ESPN’s Aaron Schatz took some time to advise each of the NFL’s 32 teams on moves they should make during this offseason, and for Dallas he suggests they extend Bland now instead of waiting until his contract expires after the season. There may be some questions about extending Bland, who is going into the final year of his rookie contract, after the cornerback missed much of 2024 with injuries. And frankly, he could be a bit overrated after his performance in 2023 because there’s a lot of randomness involved in getting five pick-sixes. Still, Bland is strong in coverage. Even without any interceptions in 2024, he had an above-average coverage DVOA in his seven appearances. Extending Bland would lock down the cornerback spot across from Trevon Diggs and allow Dallas to add roughly $3.3 million in cap space. A couple notes. The Cowboys have several ways that they can create additional cap space this offseason, so the $3.3 million isn’t a dire need, and that doesn’t seem an accurate projection of the impact of an extension. Bland is set to make $5.2 million this season in base salary and an extension would likely lower his base salary to the league minimum, $1.1 million for a player with three accrued seasons. But a new deal for Bland would come with a signing bonus, and that would have to be a relatively small one to see that kind of savings. It would need to be $4 million across a five-year deal to shave $3.3 million off his cap number. More than likely Bland’s bonus would be bigger and the savings much less. Spotrac sees Bland’s market value as being a $23.7 million a year player, and suggests a four-year contract extension totaling $94.5 million in new money. A signing bonus of at least $20 million would be in play, meaning that Bland’s 2025 cap hit would go up, not down. Even if Spotrac is over-estimating Bland’s value by a large number, the likelihood an extension results in cap savings this year is unlikely. The real question is whether or not Dallas should commit to Bland for the long term. His work as a fill-in nickel corner in his rookie season was quite impressive, and he followed that up with a record-setting season on the boundary in Year 2. An injury late in training camp in Year 3 put him behind the proverbial 8-ball, but there’s no reason to think that downturn should extend into this year or beyond. It makes a ton of sense for the Cowboys to extend Bland now, especially considering they might need to leverage a franchise tag scenario with Micah Parsons next offseason. Follow all of your favorite Texas teams at Cowboys Wire, Longhorns Wire, Texans Wire, Rockets Wire and Aggies Wire!
Cowboys’ internal options to replace Zack Martin at RG
Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images Cowboys have several internal options to replace Zack Martin. Many changes are coming for the Dallas Cowboys and changing of the guards, quite literally, is now one of them. Zack Martin, a future Hall of Famer, has informed the team of his retirement from the NFL. This news isn’t all that surprising considering he’s reached the age where father time starts to catch up to professional athletes, and is also currently rehabbing from a season-ending ankle injury that required surgery. Now that we know Zack Martin won’t return to Dallas, it leaves a vacancy that will need to be filled on the Cowboys offensive line at right guard. While free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft could possibly provide his replacement, there are some internal options Dallas could choose to turn to. Today, we’re going to take a look at those options. Brock Hoffman (6’4″, 302) Considering he stepped in for Zack Martin when he finally shut it down due to his ankle injury, Brock Hoffman seems to be the favorite to retain the job heading into 2025. He played a total of 387 snaps at RG last year as well as 109 at C and 19 at LG. He played admirably when he was needed a season ago, and without a better option, he gets the nod for now. Cooper Beebe (6’4″, 335) In his first year ever playing center, Cooper Beebe not only performed well above expectations, but was also Dallas’ most consistent offensive lineman last year other than Tyler Smith. Kicking him over to replace Zack Martin could be what’s best for him long-term, however, that would then open up a vacancy at C. The only way this happens is if the Cowboys believe Beebe is better at RG and they have a C worthy of replacing him. T.J. Bass (6’4″, 325) T.J. Bass could be considered in a neck-and-neck race with Brock Hoffman to step in as Zack Martin’s replacement in 2025. He played a total of 127 snaps at RG and 188 at LG last year in a reserve role, but has yet to really prove he can be depended on as a full-time starter. He’s a much better run blocker then he is as a pass protector, which could possibly work in his favor if Brian Schottenheimer and his staff actually does commit to the running game. Asim Richards (6’4″, 307) In his two years with the Cowboys Asim Richards has seen playing time at both left and right guard and left tackle. He primarily played LT last year rotating in and out of the lineup due to Tyler Guyton’s struggles as a rookie, but given the opportunity he could potentially challenge for the job to become Zack Martin’s replacement at RG. He’s probably a long shot though, however, his position flex at the very least could put him into contention. Nathan Thomas (6’4″, 331) Nathan Thomas was a seventh-round pick in 2024 by the Cowboys and pretty much had a red-shirt season with the organization last year. He’s a complete wildcard right now considering we don’t really know what he brings to the table or what his best position might be in the NFL. He was a left tackle during his time at Louisiana, but many believe kicking inside to guard would be in his best interest. His skill set at least gives him a chance.
Cowboys news: New DC Matt Eberflus wants turnovers in Dallas
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here. What will new DC Matt Eberflus bring to Cowboys’ defense? – Todd Archer, ESPN The new DC in Dallas wants the defense to get back to creating lots of turnovers in 2025. “Yeah, pretty simple: We take the ball away,” he said when asked what the hallmark of his defense is. “That’s what we do. We stop the run. And we want to make exciting plays for our football team. That’s really what we do.” In his first year as the Colts’ coordinator in 2018, Indianapolis went from No. 30 in points and yards allowed to No. 10 and 11, respectively. The run defense went from 26th to eighth, and the Colts did not allow a 100-yard rusher. Only once in the past seven years has an Eberflus-led defense or team finished outside the top 10 in takeaways. And in 2023, the Bears tied for the NFL lead with 22 interceptions. It helps Eberflus that he will have Parsons. Since 1982, Parsons and Hall of Famer Reggie White are the only players to record at least 12 sacks in each of his first four NFL seasons. League rules prevent them from talking much about football at this time of year. One of Eberflus’ first talks with Parsons came when the pass rusher was enjoying Disney World with his kids while in Orlando, Florida, for the Pro Bowl. “Micah’s a premier pass rusher. We’re going to use him that way certainly,” Eberflus said. “And he’s a heckuva athlete and can do a lot of different things for us on defense. When you have a guy like that you want to be able to utilize his skill set, and as we’re around him more, we’ll be able to see what that skill set is and really take advantage of that.” It also helps Eberflus that he has defensive assistants from his time in Chicago, such as pass game coordinator Andre Curtis, linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi, cornerbacks coach David Overstreet and assistant defensive line coach Bryan Bing. Ken Dorsey explains how he’ll assist Brian Schottenheimer in building Cowboys’ offense – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com The Cowboys’ new passing game coordinator, Ken Dorsey, wants to ensure that the running game is utilized in supporting the passing attack. Dorsey spent last season as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns and was previously in the same role for two seasons with the Buffalo Bills. In this role, he’ll focus more on constructing the offense as a whole and chip in with help wherever he can. “I’m helping out with the offense in general, I’ll be able to go where needed in terms of helping out position groups and things like that,” Dorsey explained. “I’m going to be able to help a lot with tying the pass game with the run game and some off the pass concepts and things like that, but it’s I think more of a big picture role more so than a specific one lane type deal.” When it comes to what the offense will look like schematically, Dorsey echoed the same sentiments that Schottenheimer and the rest of the staff have as well – the Cowboys are focused on using the ground game to set up everything else. “We’re going to be a team that’s going to run the football and be able to utilize that as a strength for us and then utilize our guys and be able to adjust our system based off of our guys’ strengths.” Dorsey said. One of the key pieces of the puzzle will be maximizing Dak Prescott when he returns for the 2025 season and beyond. Dorsey has coached high level quarterbacks like 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen in the past, and was complimentary of what Prescott has been able to do in his nine NFL seasons. “He’s got a tremendous skill set, he can make all the throws that you can ask for…” Dorsey said of Prescott. “He’s got tremendous experience in this league. For a quarterback position, the more reps you get in a game, the more you’re reacting instead of thinking, it’s just a natural reaction, you can play faster and faster and faster.” Zack Martin appreciation section. Zack Martin has decided to retire after 11 years with the Dallas Cowboys, according to multiple sources. He had a meeting with Jerry Jones on Thursday to inform the owner/GM of his decision. Nine-time Pro Bowler. Seven-time All-Pro. — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) February 20, 2025 Zack Martin joins Larry Allen as one of the greatest guards in NFL history. He was a seven-time All-Pro, a nine-time Pro Bowler and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2010s all-decade team. Martin, like Allen, should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. — Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) February 21, 2025 the best player I played with or against. 1st ballot in a world with any justice. https://t.co/gFIrWHykZI — Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) February 20, 2025 Nobody in Cowboys’ history has more first-team All-Pro selections than Zack Martin. His seven are tied with Bob Lilly and Randy White. Only Lilly (11), Jason Witten (11), Larry Allen (10) and Mel Renfro (10) have more Pro Bowl selections as a Cowboy. — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) February 20, 2025 Why should Cowboys’ upgrades start at defensive line? Look at Super Bowl-winning Eagles – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News The Cowboys will need to bolster their defensive line if they want to play with the top contenders in the NFC. In the Super Bowl, the Eagles played eight different defensive linemen, four were first-round picks. The starters featured a pair of first rounders. As the Cowboys’ personnel staff descends at the NFL Scouting Combine starting Monday in Indianapolis, upgrading the talent along the defensive line should rank high on the to-do list… …Knowing which players are on your roster, and which are leaving, brings you to the draft. The Cowboys pick No. 12 overall in the first
9 Wide receivers Cowboys could target in trade talks, free agency
It’s no secret the Dallas Cowboys have some work to do to re-establish their offense among the league’s best. It wasn’t long ago that the offense was a staple in the league’s top 10 rankings, no matter who was asking. The Cowboys were first in scoring in 2021 and 2023, and third in 2022, but plummeted to 21st in 2024. They were Pro Football Focus’ top offense in 2021, fourth in 2023, but No. 28 in 2024. Dallas finished fourth in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) in 2021, and ninth in 2023, but dropped to 25th in 2024. The drop is consistent with the loss of QB Dak Prescott, but the team’s passing game was a struggle even when he was under center and the biggest culprit was the lack of receiving options not named CeeDee Lamb. Both Brandin Cooks and Jake Ferguson struggled in 2024, with the latter turning in the worst TE performance in the history of advanced stats. Cooks is a free agent and Dallas would be wise to find help from outside. Waiting to see how the draft falls and then hoping to get elite production from a rookie makes little sense unless they are ready to early commit the No. 12 pick (or higher) to the cause. So free agency, or the trade market might be the way to go. Fortunately, this is a big offseason for potential wide receiver movement. It’s one of the most stacked positions in free agency and several other players could be available for trade. Wednesday’s announcement that the salary cap will have an additional $7 million in space certainly helps ease the idea of acquiring salary, and Dallas has options to create whatever room they desire, if they want to actually invest in Brian Schottenheimer’s tenure. Here’s a look at the wideouts from PFF’s recent list of 22 top offseason targets, which should be of great interest to Stephen Jones. 2. Tyreek Hill, Dolphins Dec 3, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) celebrates in the end zone after catching a touchdown pass against the Washington Commanders during the first quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports Hill’s public comments following the season’s conclusion and the subsequent walking back of those comments have very much put the talented receiver’s future in flux. The nine-year veteran stumbled in 2024 due to instability under center for the Dolphins and the offense’s general ineffectiveness, which earned him the lowest PFF receiving grade of his career (77.3). Despite that, the phones in the Dolphins’ front office will be ringing should Hill become available. https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2025-nfl-free-agents-trade-targets-ranked 2025 Cap Hit: $15 million (ton of dead money in guarantees follow his contract) Contract Runs Through: 2026 4. Tee Higgins, Bengals Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) lays out for a pass in the end zone but is ruled out of bounds in the third quarter of the NFL Week 3 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Commanders at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. The Bengals remain winless after a 38-33 loss to Washington. The first domino to fall in the receiver market undoubtedly should be Higgins, as he holds all of the traits coveted in a WR1 — and it wouldn’t cost draft capital to secure him. Despite an ailing hamstring holding him out at times this past season, Higgins still produced exceptionally in 2024, amassing the highest PFF receiving grade (88.3) of his career. 2025 Cap Hit: Unrestricted Free Agent 5. Garrett Wilson, Jets New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) is shown as he warms up, Sunday January 5, 2025, in East Rutherford. While the Jets’ dealing of their 24-year-old former first-round pick with nothing but stellar production is unlikely on the surface, reports that Wilson could request a trade this offseason have sprouted as of late. If he were to become available, he would immediately become one of the most coveted receivers on the trade market. Wilson is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands, with his 25 missed tackles forced on receptions leading all receivers in 2024. 2025 Cap Hit: $3.5 million Contract runs through: 2026 (fifth-year option invoked) 8. Chris Godwin, Buccaneers Dec 5, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) runs against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Darren Hall (34) during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Before going down with a gruesome ankle injury in October, the eight-year veteran was on pace to produce one of his best seasons as a pro. Through Week 7, Godwin boasted the third-highest PFF receiving grade (85.7) among wideouts, displaying that the savvy slot target still has good snaps left, should he be able to bounce back from his injury. 2025 Cap Hit: Unrestricted Free Agent 11. Davante Adams, Jets Aug 26, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) and Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) pose for a photo after the game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports After finding his way to New York in October to link back up with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Adams could depart alongside his teammate. Despite producing his lowest PFF receiving grade (76.8) since 2016, he still has plenty of good snaps left and would provide an established offense with an X receiver who routinely showcases his savvy route-running and contested-catch ability. 2025 Cap Hit: $36.2 million Contract runs through: 2026 13. Cooper Kupp, Rams Nov 17, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) scores a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images After being the center of numerous trade rumors near the deadline, Kupp is set to depart Los Angeles after the team informed him it will seek a trade this offseason. Some risk-averse teams will likely overlook Kupp due to his age (32 in June) and recent injury history. But,
Zack Martin’s retirement after stellar 11-year career cements Cowboys’ Ineptitude Era
Zack Martin’s retirement after stellar 11-year career cements Cowboys’ Ineptitude Era K.D. Drummond It’s the end of an era. Zack Martin has retired from football after an 11-year career, all spent with the Dallas Cowboys. Martin’s resume is immaculate; missing more than two games in a season just twice in his career, he was named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams each of the other nine campaigns. He entered the league a dominant force of nature as soon as he was drafted from Notre Dame and converted from tackle to guard. When Martin joined the Cowboys in 2014, he was the final piece of the puzzle. Dallas’ front office had see enough. Franchise quarterback Tony Romo was being asked to do too much, and the club wasn’t protecting him at levels that allowed the veteran quarterback to perform at his best. In Jason Garrett’s first full season as head coach, the offensive line finally became a priority for the organization. Dallas drafted USC cyborg Tyron Smith that season, moving him from right tackle to left tackle the following year. After confirming they had their franchise left tackle, Dallas then drafted Wisconsin’s Travis Frederick in 2013’s first round, followed by Martin the next year. For several years, the Cowboys boasted one of the most impressive offensive lines in the league. All-Pros and Pro Bowls rained down as Dallas had a core position group that was supposed to lead to championships. But those aren’t promised and good things don’t last forever. Soonafter the second iteration of the Great Wall of Dallas hit their groove, Romo’s body began to break down. Somehow Dallas lucked into a second-consecutive franchise QB in Dak Prescott, but that joy didn’t last long either. A unique medical condition robbed Frederick of his prime years and eventually his career, and Smith began suffering a consistent stream of injuries year after year. Frederick missed all of 2018 with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an auto-immune disease. Smith, who missed three whole games and parts of several others every season from 2016 through 2019, started experiencing major issues in 2020. With Frederick retired, Smith played just two games that season (only 30 over four years), the first campaign where Martin was the last man standing. Unfazed, Martin continued to play with sheer excellence, year after year, consistently protecting his quarterback and making running lanes for backs. Even when he wasn’t his usual best, in 2023, he was still the best in the league, earning his seventh First-Team All-Pro and ninth overall. But Martin knew the end was nearing. He had publicly floated the possibility of retirement earlier that summer, holding out until the final two seasons of his contract were guaranteed. Dallas had released Smith that prior spring, leaving Martin as the elder statesman of the offensive line. Taking direction from a new OL coach in Mike Solari, the time Martin missed and the new system, along with age, allowed flaws in the armor to start to appear. In 2024, Martin wasn’t the same and he struggled long before the myriad of injuries took their toll. After 10 games, he had enough and was placed on injured reserve. Now, facing free agency, he’s decided his body has had enough, hanging up his cleats. And with his retirement, he adds his name to a ridiculously long list of star Cowboys who have now seen their career come to an end without Dallas ever hoisting the Lombardi trophy. Martin, Smith and Frederick. Romo. Prescott. Jason Witten. Dez Bryant. DeMarcus Ware. Flozell Adams. Miles Austin. DeMarco Murray. Ezekiel Elliott. Dexter Coakley. Dat Nguyen. Sean Lee. LaRoi Glover. Jay Ratliff. Terrell Owens. The talent that has flowed through the various headquarter buildings since the end of the Triplets era has been immense. And they’ve all left Dallas without winning a championship.
Cowboys 2025 offseason roster preview: Offensive tackles
Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images This is going to be an interesting offseason for the Cowboys with how they handle their tackle situation. 2024 wasn’t a good season for plenty of position groups in Dallas, but offensive tackle may have had some of the greatest struggles. Growing pains for some, physical pain for others, and a general lack of cohesion led to inconsistent play, lots of penalties, and plenty of questions about what the Cowboys should do with their tackles going forward. Under Contract Tyler Guyton, Terence Steele, Matt WaletzkoNathan Thomas, Earl Bostick Jr. Potential Departures Terence Steele, Chuma Edoga Terence Steele fits the profile of a potential salary cap casualty. He’s not performing up to his contract, counting $18.6 million in 2025. But as we broke down recently, Dallas’ overall landscape at OT adds some challenges to cutting Steele. You’d get some cap room, but you’d lose a starter without any clear way of replacing him. Dallas would likely have to spend more than the potential cap relief to sign an adequate replacement, let alone an upgrade. Additionally, Guyton presents uncertainty in the other starting spot. Many left tackles struggle in their rookie seasons, and Guyton was considered a raw prospect when he was drafted. Dallas took some assumed lumps by putting him out there with the hope that it would speed his development for the future. The hope is that Guyton’s first full offseason and that valuable experience will produce a much-improved player in 2025, but it’s going to be a while until we see the results. One potentially helpful factor for both of them, and all of the offensive line, are the changes to Dallas’ coaching staff. We’ll see how new OL coach Conor Riley does working with pros, but one thing we can expect is a renewed focus on the run game in Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams’ offense. That’d be great news for Steele, who’s always been much stronger blocking for runs than passes, and should reduce the pressure on Guyton as well. Even if Dallas keeps riding with Guyton and Steele in 2025, they’ll still want to give attention to the backups. Chuma Edoga will be a free agent and would likely be an easy re-sign, but his value as a swing tackle is pretty limited. Guard Asim Richards should be able to offer what Edoga has as a versatile backup. And while there’s always the option to play Tyler Smith at left tackle in a pinch, the Cowboys could consider adding someone who provides depth now and potentially replaces Steele in 2026. Free Agency Sure, the Cowboys could open up their wallets for a new starter like Morgan Moses or Ronnie Stanley. Moses would be an instant upgrade at right tackle over Steele, and Stanley could take over on the left side and let you move Guyton right. But these guys should be looking for at least $25 million per year based on the current market, which would be a huge leap from what Steele makes. Dallas’ more likely free agent expense at OT, if any, will be signing a new swing. They could just bring Edoga back, but the new coaches may have tackles they’ve worked with at past stops or just different views on the type of player they want. Maybe a veteran like Kelvin Beachum, who new OC Klayton Adams had in Arizona, would get some interest. 2025 NFL Draft Drafting a future starter at offensive tackle would make lots of sense. It’s obviously a big deal if Steele does get released. But unless he returns and has a huge season, Dallas will still be looking to shed his contract within the next few years. Not only does a strong OT prospect give you some immediate depth a ready replacement, but he would also provide insurance against any lack of development from Guyton. It’s an interesting thought in the first round because a couple of options should be there at the 12th pick. LSU’s Will Campbell could fall out of the top 10 and either OSU’s Josh Simmons or Texas’ Kelvin Banks could be a BPA candidate when Dallas is on the clock. It would mean consecutive drafts with the first pick going to offensive tackle, but would that be the worst thing? Dallas spent three firsts on Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin from 2011-2014 and it carried the offense for several seasons. If not in the early rounds, more opportunities should be there on Saturday. Given the poor returns Dallas got from recent Day 3 picks like Josh Ball and Matt Waletzko, it may make new developmental projects a little scary. But again, there’s a new OL coach in town who will hopefully do a better job of maximizing their potential. Final Thoughts There’s no question that Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele held the offense back in 2024. But Guyton’s issues were not surprising given his inexperience, and Steele’s struggles coincided with Mike McCarthy’s increased influence on offense. Guyton should be better in his second season, and Steele could be salvageable with a more run-focused offense and new coaches in his year. Steele presents a major question mark to the coaches and front office. He’s a sixth-year veteran who’s done very well for an undrafted player, but has never been a great pass protector and only stood out for a couple of years in his run blocking. But he’s making top-10 money for his position, so are you willing to keep paying that for “just okay” performance or is it time to invest in an upgrade? This also comes down to what opportunities present themselves in March and April. If there’s a free agent they love and are willing to pay, maybe they dump Steele for him. If something comes along in the draft, maybe you release Steele on June 1st and use that money on the next big contract for Micah Parsons or DaRon Bland. The decision doesn’t have to be made before March
Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin will reportedly retire from NFL
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Zack Martin did it the right way for the Dallas Cowboys. The end has come for 11-year veteran and future Hall of Famer Zack Martin. After much speculation, Tom Pelissero announced today that Zack Martin is officially going to be retiring from the NFL. Seven-time All-Pro guard Zack Martin has informed the #Cowboys that he plans to retire, sources tell The Insiders. One of the greatest linemen of his era and a probable Pro Football Hall of Famer, Martin walks away at age 34. pic.twitter.com/M4RqV7VoB8 — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 20, 2025 Martin, a seven-time All-Pro is one of the best offensive linemen to ever wear the star and is widely regarded as one of the best offensive lineman in the NFL over the course of his career. Martin battled through multiple injuries over the final year of his contract and in an interview at the Super Bowl was contemplating retirement entering free agency. With Martin officially retired, the Cowboys will be searching for a new starting right guard, but more importantly a leader in the locker room in Brian Schottenheimer’s first year as head coach. Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence, who also has a questionable future with the team, were the longest-tenured members of the club. All the best to Zack in life after football.
