Cowboys getting early glimpse of what life without Zack Martin could be like

It's hard to imagine life without Zack Martin for the Dallas Cowboys. He's been the cornerstone of their offensive line since being drafted in the first round (16th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. For over a decade he's been among the best guards in the entire league and has all the accolades to prove it. Sadly though, 2024 could very well be his last in the league and with the Cowboys.

The 34-year-old hasn't quite been himself this season but has showed his toughness by playing through a multitude of injuries. A couple weeks ago those injuries became too much, causing him to miss the last two games against the Commanders and Giants. Playing on an expiring contract and possibly mulling retirement after the season, we could be getting the first glimpse of life without him.

There is no way the Dallas Cowboys can easily replace a seven-time First-team All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowl player. Players of Zack Martin's caliber are few and far between, making his potential retirement all the more concerning. But, father time catches up with all of us and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. That looks to be the situation No. 70 currently finds himself in.

With the future Hall of Famer watching from the sideline during the Cowboys two-game winning streak, Brock Hoffman has filled in at right guard during his hopefully short hiatus. Zack Martin he is not, but Hoffman has surprisingly filled in admirably helping the Cowboys offense be productive on both the ground and through the air. Whether he's the future of the position or not, he seems to be relishing the opportunity to prove himself so far.

Hoffman brings a little bit of nastiness to the table as a starter in the middle of the Cowboys offensive line. He plays through the whistle and has no problem mixing it up with the opponent on a play-to-play basis. And in his two starts at right guard, he grades out pretty respectably by Pro Football Focus (PFF); 70.0 overall, 75.7 pass blocking, 67.8 run blocking. If this continues, a full-time starting job next year could be his for the taking.

Minus the depressing thought of life without Zack Martin beyond the rest of the 2024 season, all of this adds up to be pretty good news for the Dallas Cowboys. If Brock Hoffman continues to play like he has the last two games, finding Martin's replacement at RG could be one of the many things they could scratch off their offseason to-do list.

Whatever ends up happening, this isn't kind of sendoff we would've liked to have seen from someone who has meant so much to the Dallas Cowboys over the years or one that has been as important. Ideally he'd be leaving with some jewelry, a Super Bowl ring or two, but unfortunately he joins a long list of players who have met the same fate. One thing is for sure though, he's a Top 10 all-time player for the organization and that's not up for debate!