Jerry Jones comments on Zack Martin contract holdout

Dallas Cowboys star OL Zack Martin is in the midst of a contract holdout, and has not joined the team for training camp. Team owner Jerry Jones expects a deal to get done, however, and is confident Martin will rejoin the team soon enough.

“We’re excited about Zack. I don’t have any concern,” Jones said of Martin on NFL Live. “I understand his concern, but we all want more money and should. If there’s anybody that has had a great career and is having a great career, it’s Zack. That’s where it is, but at the end of the day you have to get it all upkeep.”

Martin is in the midst of a six-year deal worth $84 million back in 2018, and despite having two more years left on his contract, the All-Pro believes he’s deserving of a big payday. For reference, the top-paid guard going into the 2023 season is Chris Lindstrom with the Falcons. He signed a five-year deal in March for $102.5 million — that’s likely in the ballpark of what the Cowboys are going to have to pay Martin.

Though, with the Cowboys being a team with a handful budding stars that will also be looking for a huge payday when it’s their turn — Jones knows he can’t spend all of his money in one place.

“We’ve had our talks and I think we’ll just be playing it day by day and see how it goes,” Jones said. “We’ve got a lot of guys — we have a guys named [Micah] Parsons that is going to need a little money when the time comes. So, we’re going to be judicious with our money.”

It’s not like Martin doesn’t want to be in Dallas, either. It’s the opposite. According to Cowboys OL Tyler Smith, Martin sent a message to the OL unit in a group message that indicated he is hopeful the holdout could end any day now. He was just like, ‘Set the tone. I’ll be there soon,’” Smith said.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has also advocated for Martin to receive his payday. After all, Martin has been with the team since 2014 after he was selected in the first round with the 16th overall pick and has remained in Dallas since. It’s not likely that’ll change anytime soon.

As he continues his holdout, Martin is receiving a daily $50,000 fine for his missing training camp — which has ballooned to $200,000 after missing Saturday’s workouts. That’ll be chump change once he gets paid, though.