Inside The Star
The Dallas Cowboys offseason is well underway, and you know it’s here because we start getting comments from Stephen Jones about how aggressive the Cowboys are going to be in free agency.
Offseason activities feature free agency and the NFL Draft right now, not to mention beginning negotiations with players who are due contract extensions.
On the other hand, you also have players who decide their own fate. Long time RG Zack Martin has done just that, announcing his retirement from the NFL after 11 dominant seasons.
Martin anchored the right side of the offensive line for the Cowboys, no matter who was lined up next to him at center and right tackle since being selected with the 16th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.
The Notre Dame product leaves the Cowboys offensive line with a hole that cannot be easily filled, much like when the faced the retirement of C Travis Frederick and the free agency departure of LT Tyron Smith.
Players like Martin leave an impact that is rarely matched by anyone trying to fill their shoes, and that’s the case right now in Dallas.
How will the Cowboys fill the hole left by Martin’s retirement? They have a few options to choose from.
First, it must be made clear that there is no replacing Zack Martin. A player can step in, but nobody can fill his shoes.
With that being said, there are some options already on the roster who can step in and try to fill those Hall of Fame-sized shoes.
TJ Bass is entering his third season, and the third year in the league is usually the turning point for players like Bass.
He has been a backup and utility lineman for the Cowboys since his arrival in 2023, but he has proven to be a valuable asset when called upon.
Bass has shown strength and savvy when stepping in at either guard position, and is a solid choice to succeed the Hall of Famer after his departure.
Everything I just said about Bass can also be said about another career backup, Brock Hoffman.
Hoffman is another undrafted guy who has cut his teeth on the practice squad and watching higher-drafted players get most of the snaps on the field.
He has got his licks in during spot starts over the past couple of years, and displays a mean attitude that the Cowboys would love to see from all of their players.
Hoffman might catch a 15-yard penalty for his aggressiveness, but I’ll take one flag here and there if it means the difference in how the team approaches the opponent.
Cooper Beebe would be the outright favorite to take the right guard job if he wasn’t so good at center.
Beebe was forced to step into action at center as a rookie last season, and the Cowboys were more than satisfied with his performance.
The big question then becomes: Will...
