After eleven seasons, Zack Martin informed the Dallas Cowboys that he plans to retire from the NFL. Martin has anchored the Cowboys’ offensive line since being drafted in 2014, and replacing the perennial All-Pro is now a top priority for Dallas this offseason.
Zack Martin: Future Pro Football Hall of Famer
Martin was consistently an elite player at the guard position, becoming one of the most highly decorated offensive linemen in the league and building a résumé fit for Canton.
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 was named to the All-Rookie Team in 2014 and earned nine Pro Bowl selections, seven first-team All-Pro selections, and two second-team All-Pro selections. Martin was also named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, recognizing him for his decade of dominance at the guard position.
Where Does Dallas Go From Here?
Replacing Martin will be no small task for the Cowboys’ front office, but the team could look to the NFL Draft or free agency to fill the right guard need.
The Cowboys are one of the league’s most cap-strapped teams going into the offseason, and according to PFSN’s NFL Offseason Manager, they are currently projected to be around $200,000 over the salary cap.
As the front office navigates an already challenging cap situation, it also needs to account for Micah Parsons, who is seeking a lucrative new contract extension before starting free agency.
“I’m going to try and work with them as much as possible to help them attack free agency,” Parsons said via ESPN. “I want to be back with this team. This offseason, I want to be here. I want to get these guys right. I want to take big steps, so hopefully, it can be done sooner than later so we can attack the offseason.
Parsons will enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, and a new deal will likely command a figure that contends with Nick Bosa’s, earning $35 million per year as the league’s highest-paid edge rusher.
🚨LEGEND: #COWBOYS GUARD ZACK MARTIN HAD AS MANY PRO BOWL APPEARANCES AS HE HAS HOLDING PENALTIES OVER HIS 11-YEAR CAREER.
🐐
7 CAREER HOLDING PENALTIES: THE SAME AMOUNT OF CAREER 1ST TEAM ALL-PROS.
ZACK MARTIN. ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREATS. pic.twitter.com/TqtpzCO4DJ
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) February 20, 2025
Once Parsons is taken care of, with a few additional contract restructures or roster cuts, the Cowboys could put themselves in a position to explore an intriguing free agency class at the guard position, headlined by Trey Smith, who is only 25 years old and is coming off a Pro Bowl season for the Kansas City Chiefs.
If their salary cap constraints prevent them from signing a starter in free agency, the Cowboys could turn to the draft in search of Martin’s replacement. The upcoming class is ripe with talented interior offensive linemen, and the Cowboys have plenty of capital to invest in the position.
The Cowboys currently hold the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Their other draft slots include Nos. 44, 76, 150, 170, 172, 174, 190, 211, and 250.
Martin’s retirement marks the end of a truly special NFL career, making Jerry Jones and the Cowboys front office’s already daunting offseason even more challenging.