Cowboys’ Martin ‘closer to the end’ of his career

Todd Archer, ESPN Staff WriterJun 5, 2024, 12:11 PM ET
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FRISCO, Texas — As Zack Martin enters his 11th season with the Dallas Cowboys, the nine-time Pro Bowler and seven-time first-team All Pro wonders if 2024 could be his final one.

“I think I’d be lying if I said it has not entered my mind, right?” Martin said on Thursday. “I think that’s been a big thing for me this year, just try to tell myself, ‘Hey, go out, do your thing and let anything else take care of itself after the season.’ I don’t know when I’ll be done, but it’s definitely getting closer to the end. I think it’s just a good reminder for myself to stay in the present and take advantage of this year.”

In this offseason, Martin saw his longtime teammate, Tyron Smith, leave as a free agent for the New York Jets. Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys’ first- and second-round picks in 2014, are the longest-tenured Cowboys.

Martin turns 34 in November. His nine Pro Bowls are the second most by an offensive lineman in team history — one behind the 10 Larry Allen earned. His seven first-team All-Pro selections are tied for the most in team history with Bob Lilly and Randy White.

While he has missed only 13 games in his career, Martin acknowledged “wear and tear” on his body.

“Yeah, I haven’t had big injuries, but just the wear and tear,” he said. “And then I think the big thing is — and I’m definitely still here, which is why I’m back this year — you have to be all-in on this thing. You’ve got to be locked in. You’ve got to be obsessed with it. I think when that feeling starts to fade a little bit, then it’s probably time to go and do something else.”

Martin held out of a portion of training camp last year before receiving $36 million guaranteed over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, a raise of $8.5 million. The Cowboys reworked Martin’s contract again this offseason, but it was with the idea that 2024 could be his final season and allowed them to spread out a potential salary cap hit in 2025 while saving $13.5 million against the 2024 cap.

Martin has taken limited work during the organized team activities and minicamp with the idea of keeping him fresher during the season. Late last season, he adapted his practice schedule, working off to the side with Smith on Wednesdays and Thursdays while also going through all of the walk-through snaps.

“I talked with the coaches after the season, just kind of listening to my body and making sure I’m as healthy and feeling as good as I can going into Sundays,” he said. “So, whatever that looks like as the season progresses, we’ll adjust accordingly.”