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Cowboys Options For In-House Zack Martin Replacement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Richie Whitt | Last updated Feb 21, 2025 5:33 PM ET

FRISCO - A year ago the Dallas Cowboys had to replace two starters along the offensive line and they did so in the NFL Draft. Starting two rookies proved, um, challenging in 2024 as they could never get a running game untracked during a 7-10 season.

Now that future Hall of Famer Zack Martin has decided to retire, the Cowboys have another glaring hole to fill at the right guard position he's held down for 11 years.

To draft, or not to draft?

That's just one of the big questions facing new head coach Brian Schottenheimer as Dallas ventures into a new era of offensive football without Martin, Tyron Smith, Tyler Biadasz and Mike McCarthy.

Like they did with Cooper Beebe and Tyler Guyton, the Cowboys could use their 12th overall pick in the first round to draft Martin's successor. If they try the free agency route, former Detroit Lions' starter Kevin Zeitler might be a good fit, though he's played 13 years so how much gas is left in the tank is a real issue.

The cost-effective strategy would be to, of course, simply promote from within. If Jerry Jones goes that route, the choices are Beebe, Brock Hoffman, T.J. Bass or Asim Richards.

When Martin left after Week 14 for season-ending ankle surgery, it was Hoffman who stepped in so he's probably the most logical option. He played 387 snaps at right guard last year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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