All-Pro offensive guard Zack Martin reaches a deal to return to the Cowboys

14 August 2023 , 22:32

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Zack Martin #70 of the Dallas Cowboys

After holding out of training camp, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Zack Martin has reached an agreement to return to the NFL franchise this season. The move will help mitigate a daily fine of $50,000 for missing training camp.

The All-Pro guard was said to agree with the Cowboys on a new contract that will pay him more than $18 million annually for the next two ears. ESPN confirms that both years of the contract contain fully guaranteed money.

Martin took to social media with a simple message saying, "Back to work." The message came after several NFL insiders confirmed that the All-Pro guard would return to the team.

As a result of missing ten practices with the Cowboys this offseason, Martin racked up over $500,000 in fines, based on their daily fine criteria. Twenty-one days later, Martin will attend the team's training camp in Oxnard, California.

Before signing the deal, Martin was set to make $13.5 million this season and $14 million in base salary money. It was previously reported that Martin and his camp hoped to hold out until they could acquire an average salary of around $20 million per year, guaranteeing him a spot as one of the top two highest-paid guards in the NFL based on average annual value.

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Here is how Martin's new deal ranks among the top guards in the NFL based on average annual value. All financial figures have been provided by Spotrac at the time of publication.

1. Chris Lindstrom (Atlanta Falcons): $20.5 million
2. Quenton Nelson (Indianapolis Colts): $20 million
3. Zack Martin (Dallas Cowboys): $18 million
4. Elgton Jenkins (Green Bay Packers): $17 million
5. Brandon Scherff (Jacksonville Jaguars): $16.5 million
6. Joe Thuney (Kansas City Chiefs): $16 million
7. Joel Bitonio (Cleveland Browns): $16 million
8. Wyatt Teller (Cleveland Browns): $14.2 million
9. Laken Tomlinson (New York Jets) $13.3 million
10. Ben Powers (Denver Broncos): $12.8 million

Zack Martin #70 of the Dallas Cowboys stands on the sidelines during the national anthem

Prior to the deal, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stated that the Cowboys would need to allocate their funds across various positions instead of prioritizing Martin as the league's highest-paid guard. Through his absence at camp, Martin's reps were replaced by second-year player Josh Ball.

In the 2014 NFL Draft, the Cowboys selected Martin as their first-round pick. Martin's performances over the years have earned him a spot on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, along with eight Pro Bowl and All-Pro team selections.

Martin has been considered as one of the most exceptional offensive linemen of all time, earning him the respect and admiration of fans and fellow players alike. He's also become a popular player within the organization from fans on social media.

Martin is surpassed only by Hall of Famers John Hannah and Randall McDaniel regarding All-Pro honors. Even after an injury-shortened 2020 season, Martin has collected All-Pro accolades in each of the past two years and has been a cornerstone blocker for the Cowboys during the Dak Prescott era.

Despite the early retirement of Travis Frederick and Tyron Smith's ongoing injury issues, Martin has consistently been a reliable force on the offensive line. He'll now be able to continue his Cowboys career next season.

Rory Robinson