Dallas Cowboys sign first round pick Zack Martin
The Dallas Cowboys signed first round pick Zack Martin on Monday to a four-year deal with a fifth-year option.
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Martin’s deal, according to ESPN Dallas, will pay him $8.967 million, which includes a $4.842 million signing bonus for the former Notre Dame offensive lineman who was the No. 16 overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Martin will play guard initially for the Cowboys and could conceivably play center in a pinch and he has already played a tremendous impact on the fate of the 2014 team when his block on Sean Lee resulted in the Cowboys middle linebacker tearing his ACL and likely being lost for the entire season.
Cowboys fans hope the rest of Martin’s rookie season and career with the club goes much better than the start and it should as he addresses a need on the offensive line.
When the Cowboys were on the clock in the first round Johnny Manziel was still on the board as the collective hearts of “America’s Team” waited with anticipation of potentially drafting the Kerrville, Texas native and 2012 Heisman winner at Texas A&M, but Jerry Jones and the Cowboys did not fall into the hype machine and drafted the versatile offensive lineman as the team continued its effort of rebuilding the line.
With Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick taken in the first round in recent years, the Cowboys could boast one of the youngest and more talented lines in the entire NFC.
Martin may not have been the sexiest draft pick at the time, but he should play a key role in 2014 and beyond for Dallas.