Zack Martin’s rookie contract with the Dallas Cowboys will expire after 2018. But the two sides are reportedly working on a deal to make Martin the league’s highest-paid guard.
“The Cowboys and Martin have mutual interest in keeping the partnership together for a long time, but it will be a significant pay day. Martin is widely regarded as one of the top guards in the league, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2014 and 2016 and second-team honors in 2015,” Drew Davison of the Star Telegram reported. “Martin’s contract is expected to surpass the one the Cleveland Browns handed to Kevin Zeitler, who became the highest-paid guard this offseason with a five-year, $60 million deal.”
It would be hard to argue that he’s not worth it.
In Martin’s three seasons in the NFL, the Cowboys have ranked second twice (2014, 2016) and ninth (2015) in total rushing yards. By contrast, Dallas was 24th in 2013, the year before Martin joined the team.
Granted, that can’t all be entirely attributed to one player. Still, Martin has been one of the NFL’s best linemen since Dallas selected him No. 16 overall in 2014. He’s never missed a game or a start. In addition to his All-Pro honors, Martin has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons.