Johnny Manziel has been on quite the journey since 2014, when Stephen Jones famously talked his father, Jerry Jones, out of drafting him. Instead of landing in Dallas, Manziel bounced around—from College Station to Cleveland, then Canada, Memphis, and even a stint with something called the Zappers. Today, he seems to have settled down a bit, working with the Action Network and hosting a podcast. His personal life has been just as eventful—he recently split from Jose Canseco’s daughter—but all signs point to him finally getting things together. Let’s hope so, because it’s been a long time coming.
Meanwhile, the guy Dallas drafted instead? Zack Martin. And what a decision that turned out to be. Martin locked down the right guard position for the Cowboys for over a decade, delivering one of the most dominant careers an offensive lineman could hope for. On Thursday, he officially called it quits, leaving behind a legacy that screams Hall of Fame.
Next Stop: Canton
When talking about elite Cowboys offensive linemen, only one name might stand above Martin’s—Larry Allen. Allen was a generational talent, an absolute powerhouse, and a six-time first-team All-Pro on his way to the Hall of Fame. But here’s the kicker: Martin topped that. Seven first-team All-Pro selections. That’s more than Cowboys legends Tyron Smith, Rayfield Wright, and Erik Williams combined. Let that sink in.
His durability was just as impressive as his dominance. Over 11 seasons, Martin started at least 15 games in nine of them. He made the Pro Bowl nine times—one for nearly every season he played. Here’s a stat that speaks volumes about his consistency and discipline: he had more Pro Bowl appearances (nine) than false starts (eight) or holding penalties (seven). That’s almost unheard of.
During his peak, Martin was a key cog in one of the most formidable offensive lines the Cowboys had ever assembled. At their best, they lined up from left to right as Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Travis Frederick, Martin, and La’el Collins—a unit that made life incredibly easy for quarterbacks and running backs alike. This line was a major reason Dak Prescott, a fourth-round pick, exploded onto the scene with one of the greatest rookie seasons ever for an NFL quarterback.
Unfortunately, the Cowboys’ current offensive line isn’t what it used to be, and that decline has mirrored some of the team’s offensive struggles. But through all of it, Martin remained a rock—reliable, consistent, and dominant. No matter what went wrong around him, he more than held up his end of the bargain.
In hindsight, Stephen Jones looks like a genius for steering Jerry away from the Manziel hype and toward one of the greatest offensive linemen in Cowboys history. Imagine if things had gone the other way. Dallas dodged a bullet, and Martin rewarded them with a decade of excellence. At least Johnny Football doesn’t have that on his conscience.
Zack Martin retires as one of the greatest to ever wear the star. The next stop? The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. And when he gets there, he’ll be in the conversation for the best guard of his era—if not all time.
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