Zack Martin heaps praise on line mate Tyler Smith

Heading into his 11th season in the NFL, Zack Martin has seen a lot of spectacular offensive line play in his career. Having played alongside Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick, Martin has a keen sense of what makes an offensive lineman truly elite. So when he says former first-rounder Tyler Smith is among the best in the league, it’s backed by experience.

Martin praised his third-year teammate this week at training camp, telling reporters that the “sky is the limit.”

“He can take a big step,” Martin said of Smith. “He was dominant last year. Really dominant. But he can get better, that’s the scary thing. I think he’s one of the top guys in the league, and he’s gonna be there for a while. The sky’s the limit for that guy.”

Smith ‘really comfortable’ at left guard

After his second season in the league, Smith, a first-round pick out of Tulsa, earned his first All-Pro second-team honors and his first Pro Bowl nod. He found his spot at left guard in 2023, playing opposite Martin after starting at left tackle as a rookie. The team could still use his talents at tackle but the Cowboys drafted Tyler Guyton in the first round of the draft this year to take the open spot left by Tyron Smith.

On The 8th Round Podcast this summer, Smith opened up about how comfortable he is at guard, but admitted he’d do whatever the Cowboys want – including moving back to tackle.

“I’m coming off a really good year at guard,” Smith said. “I’m feeling really comfortable at guard. I kind of like how the continuity is right now. I’m willing to do whatever it takes, y’all, and I’m able to do whatever it takes. We’ll see what the future holds. Obviously, stay ready for anything but for right now, I’m the starting left guard of the Dallas Cowboys.”

Martin lands at No. 53 in NFL’s Top 100 rankings

As the NFL’s Top 100 countdown continues this week, the new rankings revealed that, despite his age, Zack Martin has only risen in the esteem of his fellow players. Though he ranks lower this year in CBS Sports’ Top 100 players for the 2024 season, Martin actually rose 15 spots from where he was last in the NFL’s Top 100, which is decided upon by the players.

Coming in at No. 53, the former Notre Dame star is poised to once again hold down the offensive line from his right guard position this season. Martin began making the NFL Top 100 rankings ahead of his fourth season in the league. He debuted at No. 58 after receiving All-Pro First-Team honors for the 2016 season. He then came in at No. 71 in 2018, No. 59 in 2019, No. 55 in 2020, No. 85 in 2021, No. 68 in 2022 and No. 68 again in 2023.