Report: Cowboys' Zack Martin threatens to skip training camp

Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Cowboys All-Pro OL Zack Martin threatens to skip training camp

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 7/20/23

Zack Martin is the best guard in football but isn't paid like it. That dichotomy could lead to a standoff between the All-Pro guard and the Dallas Cowboys.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Martin "is considering not reporting to training camp" because he believes he is "woefully underpaid relative to the market."

Cowboys’ six-time All-Pro guard and team captain Zack Martin is considering not reporting to training camp due to his unhappiness with his contract and the team’s lack of interest in restructuring it, per sources. Martin believes he is “woefully underpaid relative to the market.”… pic.twitter.com/mKV2W9hPPZ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 19, 2023

He's not wrong.

The news came moments after Martin was named a member of the 99 Club in "Madden NFL 24."

Welcome to the #99Club, @thegob70 #Madden24 | @EAMaddenNFL pic.twitter.com/BU7JwumSUD
— ESPN (@espn) July 19, 2023

ESPN recently ranked Martin as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the NFL. Pro Football Focus gave him the lowest grade of his career last season but still credited him with zero sacks allowed in 593 opportunities.

Even with a mountain of data to suggest Martin should be the league's highest-paid guard, his salary sits well below market value. His contract's average annual value (AAV) ($14M) ranks seventh among guards.

Since signing his six-year, $84M contract in 2018, guards Quenton Nelson and Chris Lindstrom reset the market the past two seasons. Nelson signed a four-year, $80M contract ($20M AAV) in 2022 and Lindstrom agreed to a five-year, $105M contract ($21M AAV) this offseason.

The Cowboys lucked out by signing Martin to a long-term deal before the market ballooned but they're seemingly out of good fortune.

Schefter also notes Dallas is attempting to negotiate extensions with other stars including wideout CeeDee Lamb and corner Trevon Diggs. At the same time, owner Jerry Jones has also discussed a Dak Prescott restructure.

Cowboys have been open to working on contract extensions for CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs and Terence Steele.

Jerry Jones has discussed restructuring Dak Prescott’s contract.

And now Dallas has one more contractual issue prior to camp. Zack Martin is unhappy with his deal. https://t.co/Tlma0Qpgxg
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 19, 2023

The Cowboys have plenty of fires to put out before training camp even begins. They have the sixth-best odds of winning the Super Bowl (+1600) and if Philadelphia and San Francisco stumble, Dallas should be next in line to take the NFC. But first, the Cowboys must prove they can get out of their own way.

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