Analysis
7/19/23
5 min read
Zack Martin's Unhappiness with Contract Turns Up Heat on Cowboys
It turns out running backs aren't the only NFL players unhappy about their contracts.
Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin might not report to training camp because he is upset about his compensation, ESPN reported on Wednesday.
Martin — a Cowboys captain and eight-time Pro Bowl selection — has a good case. Regarded as one of the league's best at his position (six All-Pro nods), Martin has the ninth-highest average salary among guards at $14 million.
That places him $6.5 million per year behind Atlanta Falcons standout Chris Lindstrom and $6 million behind Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts. Lindstrom has never been selected All-Pro and has made one Pro Bowl. Nelson, a three-time All-Pro, has five Pro Bowls on his resume.
Terrible Timing for Cowboys
"This is a problem because of when it's happening," said The 33rd Team analyst Eric Mangini. "You'd like to get something worked out well ahead of training camp. The last thing you want is one of your most reliable players, one of your leaders, one of the guys who's been consistent and been everything the Cowboys could have hoped for at the position to say 'I'm unhappy with where this deal is and you need to do something about. And if you don't, I'm not going to show up.'"
Martin, 32, has two seasons remaining on a seven-year, $93.4 million deal he signed in 2018. The Cowboys restructured his contract this offseason, moving $9.3 million in salary to a bonus to create more salary-cap space.
Martin's displeasure with his deal adds another layer to what could be an interesting few years in Big D. Several other marquee Cowboys need new contracts in the next two years, not the least of which is their starting quarterback.
"It's disruptive, and it's also a little bit of a precedent for other guys moving forward as to how the Cowboys are going to handle this," Mangini said. "You would like to think organizationally these discussions should have taken place a long time ago, not at the start of training camp, but here we are. This goes from a small problem to one that's going to be talked about day in, day out every time he doesn't show up."
Prescott's Comments Potentially Unsettling
The news about Martin's displeasure comes on the heels of recent comments by QB Dak Prescott. Prescott, who led the league in interceptions (15) in 2022 despite missing five games, said he won't have 10 interceptions off "tipped" balls in 2023.
"Do I blame those receivers? No," Prescott said. "[Coach] Mike (McCarthy) does an amazing job [with the receivers]. They know where the hell to be, why to be and when they're getting looked at. That's going to be a big jump, I think. We won't have those tipped interceptions this year."
"This type of response, however, might not sit well with teammates," Mangini said.
"It's one of those things where he's trying to say, 'Yeah, this isn't going to happen. I fixed this problem. However, part of the problem getting fixed really wasn't anything to do with me. It had to do with the receivers, it had to do with the scheme, the coaching, all those things'," Mangini said. "That's the part I don't love in this answer. I like his optimism, but I don't necessarily like how he's portraying it."
Prescott Playing for Next Contract
Prescott's cap hit balloons to nearly $60 million for 2023, meaning the Cowboys will have to make a decision on what to do at the game's most important position. Prescott has won nearly two-thirds of his 97 regular-season starts but is 2-4 in the playoffs. Dallas has not advanced past the divisional round during his tenure.
"This is a really big year for Dak," said Trey Wingo of The 33rd Team. "If everything goes great, he gets a massive new deal. If everything doesn't go great, this team probably gets blown up."
Added Mangini, "He's on a big deal, and when you sign a guy like that, it's the old adage that to whom much is given, much is expected. It's not just expected that you go to the playoffs, it's not just expected that you win the division, it's expected you go deep in the playoffs. It's expected you give your team a chance to win the Super Bowl when you're a marquee quarterback. To this point, he really hasn't shown the ability to do that."
Dallas' Biggest Stars Are Watching
How these situations play out could have a massive impact on a handful of the Cowboys' top young players.
"Other players want to know the best players are taken care of," Wingo said. "They get concerned. If they don't take care of that guy, what are they going to do for me?"
How the Cowboys handle Martin's situation is pivotal because Dallas has a staggering list in the contract queue.
Cornerback Trevon Diggs, who has 17 interceptions in his first three seasons, will be a free agent after this season. Diggs, a two-time Pro Bowler, is in line for a huge raise. He will make $4.8 million in 2023, the final season of his rookie contract.
The contract of WR CeeDee Lamb, another two-time Pro Bowler, expires after the 2024 season. Lamb, who has 260 catches in his first three seasons, will make $17.9 million playing on a fifth-year option in 2024.
Edge Micah Parsons, an All-Pro in each of his first two seasons, assuredly will have his fifth-year option picked on his rookie deal next offseason. Parsons, who already has 26.5 sacks, will be a free agent after the 2025 season if an extension isn't worked out.
In addition, RB Tony Pollard will play on a franchise tag worth $10.1 million this season.
