The Dallas Cowboys will have an interesting couple of months coming up with free agency and the NFL draft on deck. One of the biggest questions that will need to be answered is an in-house one, and that’s the future of All-Pro guard Zack Martin. It’s hard to believe, but Martin is going into his 12th season in the league, so he’s heading towards the end of his career. However, when will the end be for Martin?

During his first six seasons in the league, Martin only missed two games, and both came in 2018. Over the last five years, Martin has played in just 10 games in a season twice, including this season due to back, shoulder, and ankle injuries. He was out for two games in 2023 as well and hinted last offseason that 2024 could be his swan song. The injuries are starting to pile up, and that doesn’t bode well for an older player, especially one with lower body ailments.

Martin spoke earlier this week about where’s he’s at in terms of continuing his NFL career.

First off, I want to try to get healthy. Here in the next month, six weeks, me and my wife have been talking about it. Right now, I’m focused on getting healthy and seeing how I feel with this ankle kind of repaired and whether or not I’m going to go out and try to go again.

Martin has seen his play go down a tick over the last two seasons. As far as his entire résumé, though, he’s been a consistent player that has performed at the highest level. He has nine All-Pro selections in 11 seasons, with seven being on the first team. Also, Martin has been a model when it comes to playing the game the right way as he has only been hit with a flag for holding just seven times and only eight times for a false start. Yes, Martin has more All-Pro nods than holding and false start penalties, which is simply unreal.

Unfortunately, the Cowboys haven’t always had great success on the field since Martin came on board. Although they have five NFC East titles and six playoff appearances since Martin was drafted, it’s only produced three wins in the postseason. Let’s face it, losing takes a toll on players, and it gets worse the longer they continue to play and come up short. That’s one of the things that Martin has to consider as well as his health going forward.

I think I’ve done a nice job in my career to really focus on what I was doing at that time throughout my career, and that’s what I’m trying to do now.

Still trying to figure out what the next chapter in my life looks like, whether that be playing football here in Dallas, playing football somewhere else, retiring, whatever that may be, that’s what I’m trying to figure out.

If Martin does return in 2025, he’ll be playing for his third head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, who was hired a few weeks ago. Although next season will be his first as the head man, Schottenheimer will be in his fourth year with the organization. The first was spent as a coaching assistant, and the last two were as the offensive coordinator. During that time, he has built a strong relationship with quarterback Dak Prescott. With his mindset for wanting creativity, and with new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams sharing the same philosophy, the Cowboys offense should look a lot different in 2025.

That has also allowed Martin to spend quite a bit of time around Schottenheimer. The former first-round pick gave his thoughts on the Cowboys’ new head coach and where he sees the Cowboys going under his leadership.

I’m excited for him, man. He’s made an impression on that building the last couple of years, I think what he does really well is he does a great job of having relationships in the building with everyone, whether it be an offensive player or a defensive player.

I know that’s kind of at the forefront of what he wants to bring to the organization is those relationships within the team and throughout the people who work there, and I think he’ll do a great job with that.

Now, the waiting game continues for what Martin is going to do. The Cowboys would be smart to take a guard at some point in the draft regardless, but if Martin decides to hang up the cleats, that position will rise up the priority list. The next few weeks/months will be full of anxiety and anxiousness when it comes to Martin.