FRISCO, Texas -- Word that the Dallas Cowboys picked up the fifth-year option for 2018 on Zack Martin’s contract ranks somewhere between the sun rising in the East and setting in the West in terms of news value.
There was no doubt they would make such a commitment to Martin, who has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons and twice been named an All-Pro.
Source: the Cowboys have picked up G Zack Martin's 2018 5th year option. It's worth $9.341M.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 18, 2017
But it is always worth re-visiting the Cowboys’ decision to select Martin with the 16th overall pick and match it up with what could have been.
If the Pittsburgh Steelers did not take Ryan Shazier with the 15th pick, the Ohio State linebacker would have been the Cowboys' pick. His name was written down on a card. The Cowboys were on the phone with Shazier’s agent at the time of Pittsburgh’s selection. Shazier is a tremendous athlete and shown promise in his first three years.
He has also not played a full season yet due to injuries.
And then there was the decision to say no to Jerry Jones on Johnny Manziel. Forget the stories of Stephen Jones diving over the draft table to stop his father from turning in Manziel’s name as the Cowboys’ pick. The Cowboys had played through this scenario with Manziel falling to them, knowing Jerry Jones' temptation. When they were on the clock, Jerry asked once again about Manziel, and he was greeted with silence.
The Cowboys chose Martin, and they have one of the best guards in football. Manziel was out of football last year and remains unsigned this year.
Jerry simmered over the safe pick, but it showed a new trajectory for the organization to make the smart play over the sexy play.
Martin’s fifth-year option is on the books for $9.34 million in 2018. The Cowboys hope to pay him a lot more than that before they get to 2018.
Like they did with Tyron Smith in 2014 and Travis Frederick in 2016, the Cowboys want to work out a long-term extension for Martin, preferably over the summer.
Stephen Jones had some discussions with Martin’s agents, Tom Condon and R.J. Gonser, earlier this offseason but there's nothing substantial. Both sides know the cost of doing business.
Condon and Gonser were part of the team that landed Kevin Zeitler a five-year, $60 million deal with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent in March, the biggest deal in history for a guard. The deal included $31.5 million in guaranteed money.
As good as Zeitler is, he is not Martin.
Smith signed an eight-year extension through 2023 that was worth $98 million and included $40 million in guaranteed. Frederick signed a six-year extension through 2023 that was worth $56 million and included $28 million in guarantees.
Martin will be looking at a deal in the $12 million a year neighborhood and more than $30 million in guarantees.
When it happens, you can be sure everybody will remember what could have been had the Cowboys not picked him in the first round in 2014.