Zack Martin's replacement might already be on the roster

[mrmojo]

I wouldn’t be counting on an undrafted free agent being a solid replacement for a future Hall of Fame player. Our great OL from 2014 thru 2016 was built with mostly first round players. Can anyone think of an undrafted free agent who became a stellar player on our OL?

Tui and Nate

 

[KJJ]

Tui and Nate

Gotta go back to our championship teams in the 90s. He and Nate didn’t become Pro Bowl players until we had great teams. Having other great players on the OL helped them. Nate didn’t make his first Pro Bowl until his 7th season in 92. Tui didn’t make the Pro Bowl until his 12th season in 94.

 

[JoeKing]

Nate Newton

3× Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
2× First-team All-Pro (1994, 1995)
6× Pro Bowl (1992–1996, 1998)

You forgot to add he has two brand-new knees.

 

[CWR]

I wouldn’t be counting on an undrafted free agent being a solid replacement for a future Hall of Fame player. Our great OL from 2014 thru 2016 was built with mostly first round players. Can anyone think of an undrafted free agent who became a stellar player on our OL?

Man it sucks we didn't accomplish more with those lines. It was nice watching them dominate for awhile though.

I will duck after saying this but I haven't given up on Steele. The year he went down he was playing really well.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Was Terrence Steele a UDFA?

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

(side note: I think he is going to surprise some this year)

 

[RoboQB]

Zack Martin, multi-time All-Pro, progress stopper...lol

Sad thing is, Martin will stick around long enough for Dallas to lose Bass to free agency, probably.

I've seen enough to be a fan of Bass. I personally felt that they should move Tyler out to LT and start Bass at LG.

To me, the offensive line will be the most interesting group to watch this year.

 

[gimmesix]

Zack Martin’s replacement might already be on the roster
By Aidan Davis Jun 10, 2024

Cowboys have hidden gem to replace Zack Martin in 2025 amid retirement buzz. No one can fill Martin’s shoes. But maybe they can try with a familiar face when the time comes. Cowboys have T.J. Bass waiting in the wings as possible Zack Martin replacement.

There are a number of ways the Cowboys could replace Martin. If they are pleased with the development of Brock Hoffman, they could start him at center and move 2024 third-round pick Cooper Beebe, who’s projected to start at center this season, to guard, where he played extensively in college.

However, Beebe might prove to be a star at center. There’s little chance he changes position in that scenario, which leads us back to Bass to succeed Martin. The Cowboys could always draft a guard high next year, but everything we hear from team reporters is that the team thinks highly of Bass.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ment-roster-tj-bass-jalen-tolbert-tyler-smith

I think Bass would be the most likely replacement. Gives him another year of development to see if we need to draft a replacement if Martin retires. And I think another player to keep an eye on for that spot is Asim Richards. I liked what I saw from Richards as a tackle last preseason more than at guard, but with us drafting the future at tackle in Guyton, I could see Richards ending up in a competition for RG next year instead. May have more upside than Bass.

 

[CowboysRule]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

(side note: I think he is going to surprise some this year)

It will only surprise those who don't understand ACL injuries. It takes a lot longer for your play to recover than your body. Steele had been playing great before the injury and I think this next season we'll see a return to form.

Also, unfortunately, I think we see a similar situation with Diggs. I don't expect his usual level of play this coming year.

 

[gimmesix]

I wouldn’t be counting on an undrafted free agent being a solid replacement for a future Hall of Fame player. Our great OL from 2014 thru 2016 was built with mostly first round players. Can anyone think of an undrafted free agent who became a stellar player on our OL?

Ronald Leary was pretty decent for a short time. Same with La'el Collins. Steele was playing pretty well before his ACL tear.

There are other examples around the league. That doesn't mean that Bass will be one, but I like that we get to see him and Richards for another year (unless there's an injury) before we decide if either is worth giving a shot at it. Who knows if we'll be able to add the rookie Thomas to that competition?

It's not the only unknown when it comes to this line, though, and at least we have a year or more on that one. I'm more concerned at the moment if Guyton will be able to move over to left tackle while fixing the technique flaws that kept him from being taken higher and if Beebe can successfully convert to center.

But I do like the possibility of developing a replacement for Martin instead of having to spend another first-rounder on the line soon.

 

[big dog cowboy]

But I do like the possibility of developing a replacement for Martin instead of having to spend another first-rounder on the line soon.

This x 1000!!!

 

[ATXSRT]

Didn't Martin go down during one of the games and Bass came in and the offense didn't miss a beat? At this point in Martin's career, I think he's already 1 foot out the door with the stuff he's been saying during the offseason.

 

[JBS]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

(side note: I think he is going to surprise some this year)

Side note: you have all 90 players on the roster being better than most think

 

[KJJ]

Ronald Leary was pretty decent for a short time. Same with La'el Collins. Steele was playing pretty well before his ACL tear.

There are other examples around the league.

We’ve had players that were pretty decent for a short time but I’m questioning Bass as the long term answer as in a 7-10 year starter. I’m not saying he can’t be adequate for 2-3 years. Some are missing my point.

 

[gimmesix]

We’ve had players that were pretty decent for a short time but I’m questioning Bass as the long term answer as in a 7-10 year starter. I’m not saying he can’t be adequate for 2-3 years. Some are missing my point.

I don't know if he can even be adequate for two or three years at this point. What we've seen is promising, but promise can go away quickly. I liked the promise Chaz Green showed as a rookie, but he quickly got exposed and was finished.

There certainly have been long-term OL starters found as UDFAs (Brian Waters and Jason Peters come to mind), but they are the exception not the rule, so we'll see what happens. I certainly like the promise he and Richards have shown better than some of the linemen we brought in before last year (although Ball looked better at guard than he had at tackle and Waletzko seemed like he had a chance as a left tackle before two shoulder surgeries and looking awful last preseason at right tackle).

 

[KingCorcoran]

We’ve got him replaced. We’re good.

 

[KJJ]

I don't know if he can even be adequate for two or three years at this point. What we've seen is promising, but promise can go away quickly. I liked the promise Chaz Green showed as a rookie, but he quickly got exposed and was finished.

Rob Petitti a 6th round won the RT job his rookie year. Some thought he was going to be real good. He started all 16 games but struggled the final month of the season and was gone the very next year. We had two players beat him out which made him expendable. His father posted on this board during a discussion we had about Petitti.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

I was going to post a thread on this last week
Who knows what will happen but in a perfect world Cooper wins the starting center job this season. This would show he can maybe play guard AND center at an NFL starting level ( similar to Tyler at LG and T ). This way if Martin retires after next season we can replace him with Coop and draft a top center or leave Coop at center and draft a top RG.

 

[plymkr]

When the draft happened and I read up on Beebe the thing a lot of people said was he is the best pure guard in this draft. I was thinking then and I still think after this season Beebe goes to guard and Hofman/2025 draft pick takes over at center. Unless Bass really blows up. I think the fact Beebe can play G or C and Bass/Hofman can play G or C gives us some comfort with Martin retiring. You can’t really replace Martin but we have to weather the storm. I think with Beebe and Bass we will weather the storm. Ideally Martin plays this season and next but if not I think we got some guys that can be adequate starters.

 

[DuncanIso]

All Conference means diddly squat. Practice squads are full of them

It does mean something.

All American is even better.

 

[VaqueroTD]

His replacement is here. His name is Tyler Smith.