The NFL’s official 2024 league year starts in less than a week, and franchises are already preparing for what promises to be an interesting and maybe unique offseason. With the record salary cap rise poised to go into effect, NFL teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, are clearing as much budget room as possible in order to make some big additions and extend top players’ contracts.
The Cowboys are getting a significant amount of money back after changing All-Pro guard Zack Martin’s salary for next season into a signing bonus. According to Tom Pelissero, the move frees up $13 million in salary space for Dallas, while Martin receives money upfront as he approaches the last season of his deal.
Martin held out for much of training camp last year while looking for a new contract. Following the contract issue, the 33-year-old earned his eighth first-team All-Pro honor in a 10-year career.
For much of the Cowboys’ history, the offensive line has played an important role in their identity. Zack Martin is among the best at his position in Dallas and is on course to be inducted into the Hall of Fame one day. Could 2024 be his last year in a Cowboys uniform?
Looming decisions for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys
This is a critical offseason for the Cowboys, as their wait for a Super Bowl title or appearance approaches three decades. Dallas has the talent and has made the playoffs in each of the last three years after winning 12 regular-season games. There’s only a 1-3 playoff record and a couple of division titles to show for it.
With quarterback Dak Prescott and All-Pro wide receiver Ceedee Lamb’s contracts expiring this year, Dallas must prioritize extending both of them, which will come at a high cost. There’s a case to be made that Prescott and Lamb should be the highest-paid players in their respective positions, but the Cowboys may try to work something out so they don’t have to break the bank for their stars.
Dallas also needs to ponder about Micah Parsons’ future. The Cowboys activated the fifth-year option on Parsons’ rookie contract earlier this week, controversially as a defensive end rather than a linebacker, to save a couple of million dollars. Could this leave a bad taste in Parsons’ mouth during the contract negotiations?
There’s a possibility that the Cowboys may extend Prescott, Lamb, and Parsons this offseason. Some may not think it’s smart business, but it appears to be in Dallas’ best interests to keep all three, so why wait?
Of course, money will play a huge role, which is why the Cowboys are looking for methods to increase their wage cap.
The pursuit of long-term contract extensions for those three players may cause Zack Martin to be overlooked. Multi-time All-Pro guards do not appear out of thin air, but with Martin’s contract expiring, Dallas may hunt for a replacement in this year’s draft.
It will be an interesting offseason in Dallas. Will the Cowboys emerge as a different team? We probably won’t find out until January.
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