With the 16th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected offensive tackle Zack Martin out of Notre Dame.
With probably the majority of the nation waiting to hear Roger Goodell call the name of Johnny Manziel to the Cowboys, Jerry Jones went with the safe pick and got himself an excellent offensive lineman.
Martin was a stalwart for the Fighting Irish, and has the kind of durability the Cowboys need at tackle. Tony Romo and his ailing back will certainly welcome the big 6-foot-four, 308 pound Martin.
A physical presence in the run game, Martin is one of those road grater type blockers who just moves defenders out of his path. He’ll take some refining on his pass protection, but he still may be better than anything the Cowboys currently have even as raw as he is.
While the excitement of having Manziel playing in the JerryDome would have been fun for fans and might have made for good TV rating, the bottom line is that the Cowboys made themselves a better team with this pick. No sizzle, just steak.
OVERALL PICK RATING – A
