The Dallas Cowboys offensive line has long been considered the best in the business. Guard Zack Martin has taken the mantle from tackle Tyron Smith as the unit’s standard bearer. He is so synonymous with outstanding play it is impossible to discuss the all-time great interior lineman without mentioning his name.
He’s been named First-Team All-Pro in four of the six seasons he’s played, and was on the second team the other two seasons. He’s been selected to the Pro Bowl every year. He has missed only two games. He’s committed only three penalties in the last three seasons combined. Now, Pro Football Focus has him ranked as the second best guard in the NFL, behind Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts.
2. G ZACK MARTIN, DALLAS COWBOYS
Like Nelson, his fellow Notre Dame alumnus, there has never been a time when Martin hasn’t been a dominant NFL offensive lineman. As a rookie in 2014, his 86.2 PFF grade was fifth among all guards to play at least 250 offensive snaps, and he has finished among the five highest-graded guards in the league in every subsequent season.
Martin’s second-place ranking here is more of a testament to just how dominant Nelson has been early in his career than a slight to Martin’s play, because there aren’t many of those if we’re being honest. Over the last six seasons, his 93.8 pass-blocking grade trails only Josh Sitton among qualifying guards — leading all active players at the position. The loss of Travis Frederick at center introduces a question mark into Dallas’ offensive line, but Dak Prescott will certainly be able to rely on No. 70 to keep him safe.
Martin could never step onto the football field again and have a great chance of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Earlier this month, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell named him as one of three Cowboys with better than a 70% chance of making it to Canton writing, “He has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first six seasons, adding four first-team All-Pro appearances. The list of players who have done that isn’t long, as it consists of Lawrence Taylor, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Patrick Willis, Aaron Donald and Martin. That’s three Hall of Famers, two locks, and Martin, who would be a lock if the Hall valued interior linemen.”
That’s incredible company to be in. Nelson may have usurped from Martin the title of best offensive lineman in the NFL, but the year-in and year-out consistency that Martin has provided at the position is nearly unparalleled.
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