Cowboys Pro Bowler Worth $36 Million Hints at Retirement After 2024.
An iconic Dallas Cowboys player may retire following the 2024 campaign. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, offensive guard Zack Martin hinted that the 2024 season might be his last while taking part in the team’s required minicamp.
“I believe I would be lying if I claimed it had never crossed my mind,” On June 5, a Wednesday, Martin stated. Just trying to convince myself, “Hey, go out, do your thing and let anything else take care of itself after the season,” has probably been a major thing for me this year. It’s coming closer to the end, but I’m not sure when I’ll be finished. It serves as a nice reminder to me to live in the now and make the most of this year, I believe.
Zack Martin Among the All-Time Greatest Cowboys Players The 33-year-old guard is among the team’s all-time best performers. Martin’s seven First Team All-Pro honors are tied for the most in franchise history with Bob Lilly and Randy White, and his nine Pro Bowl selections rank him second in team history after the late Larry Allen.
Martin, who will turn 34 this season, had another outstanding season in which he was selected for the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro team for the 2023 campaign. The seasoned guard, who inked a reworked two-year contract worth almost $37 million before the 2023 season began, is about to enter its final season. Throughout his career, Martin has shown remarkable durability; in three of his seasons, he has played in all offensive snaps, while in four other seasons, he has played in at least 96% of the offensive snaps.
Accidents Getting Closer to Zack Martin Despite missing two games due to an ankle ailment, Martin played effectively in 2023 despite seeing just 88% of the offensive snaps in his career. In his ten-year career, Martin has only missed 13 games, but he admits that “wear and tear” is beginning to catch up.
“Yes, I haven’t had any serious injuries; it’s just normal wear and tear,” he replied. And then, I believe the key is that you really have to put all into this, which is why I’m back this year and I’m still here. You have to be confined. It requires an obsession on your part. It’s usually time to move on and do something different when that feeling starts to wane a little.
The Cowboys are holding out for Martin without a replacement. Josh Ball, a right guard with just 13 career games and 0 starts, is Dallas’ best backup.
Due to the offseason losses of key starting offensive linemen including center Tyler Biadasz and tackle Tyron Smith, Dallas’ offensive line is currently in a patchwork configuration. To lose Martin, their best offensive lineman still available, in the upcoming summer would be devastating for a team hoping to land quarterback Dak Prescott on a long-term deal. Martin insists that he will decide following the season dependent on how his body feels during the 2024 campaign.
“I just kind of listened to my body and made sure I’m as healthy and feeling as good as I can going into Sundays,” he said in a postseason conversation with the coaches. Therefore, we’ll make the necessary adjustments as the season goes on, whatever it looks like.