Notre Dame in the NFL: Zack Martin grades as league’s best OL in Week 1

Missing most of training camp due to a contract dispute didn’t seem to affect former Notre Dame star Zach Martin.

According to Pro Football Focus, Martin was the best offensive lineman in the NFL in Week 1. The longtime Dallas Cowboy earned a 91.1 PFF grade in 51 snaps at right guard, allowing zero pressures on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

Martin went up against stud defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence for much of the game, preventing him from getting anywhere near Prescott throughout the night. The Cowboys beat the Giants 40-0 on Sunday Night Football.

Cowboys running back Tony Pollard finished with 70 rushing yards on 14 carries, often running behind Martin.

#Cowboys Zack Martin with the textbook block to seal the edge on this touchdown. 💪 pic.twitter.com/SlnebXwZhC

— MR Sports Media ™ (@MRFootballElite) September 11, 2023

After an extended holdout, Martin agreed to a reworked deal on Aug. 14 that will pay him more in line with the top guards in the NFL. Even at 32 years old, Martin is still very much one of them. He proved that Sunday night.

Here’s how the rest of the former Notre Dame players in the NFL fared in Week 1.

Brandon Aubrey (played for Notre Dame from 2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys

Aubrey missed the first extra point of his NFL career, but he made all 4 of his ensuing PATs and both his field goals in a 40-0 win over the Giants.

Aaron Banks (2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers

Banks started at left guard and registered a 51.3 PFF grade, but he did not allow a pressure in 34 opportunities. The 49ers beat the Steelers 30-7.

Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Boykin played 5 snaps but was not targeted in a 30-7 loss to the 49ers.

Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Chicago Bears

Claypool was targeted twice, catching neither and dropping 1, in a 38-20 loss to the Packers.

Scott Daly (2012-16), LS, Detroit Lions

All 8 of Daly’s snaps were successful in a 21-20 win over the Chiefs.

Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins

Eichenberg played 1 offensive snap in the Dolphins’ 36-34 win over the Chargers.

Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, New Orleans Saints

Foskey was a healthy scratch in the Saints’ 16-15 win over the Titans.

Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers 

Gilman started and made 9 tackles in the Chargers’ 36-34 loss to the Dolphins. He allowed 3 receptions on 4 targets for 40 yards.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Grupe made all 3 of his field goals, including a 52-yarder, in his NFL debut against the Titans. His 9 points were the difference in the Saints’ 16-15 win over the Titans.

Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Hainsey started at center and was given a 49.0 PFF grade in a 20-17 win over the Vikings. He allowed one hurry and committed one penalty.

Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens

Hamilton started, made three tackles and earned a 77.5 PFF grade in a 25-9 win over the Texans. The 2021 first-round pick out of Notre Dame looks set for a breakout year.

Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans

Hinish played 21 snaps, registering 1 tackle and 2 quarterback hurries in a 25-9 loss to the Ravens.

J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers

Jansen extended his Panthers record for games played to 227, snapping successfully 7 times.

Khalid Kareem (2017-19), DE, Indianapolis Colts

Kareem was a healthy scratch in the Bears’ 38-20 loss to the Packers.

Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears

Kmet started and caught five passes for 44 yards in a 38-20 loss to the Packers.

Julian Love (2015-18), DB, Seattle Seahawks

Love made nine tackles but allowed 4 receptions for 63 yards in six targets in his Seahawks debut. Seattle lost 30-13 to the Rams.

Michael Mayer (2020-22), TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Mayer, the leading Notre Dame receiver in 2022, was not targeted in 29 snaps in the Raiders’ 17-16 win over the Broncos.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants

McCloud played 19 snaps in a 40-0 loss to the Cowboys, making 1 tackle and allowing a 10-yard reception on his lone target.

Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, Denver Broncos

McGlinchey started at right tackle but allowed 6 total pressures in his Broncos debut, including 1 sack. He received a 55.2 PFF grade in a 17-16 loss to Las Vegas.

Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OL, Indianapolis Colts

Nelson started at left guard and earned a 70.9 PFF grade, allowing only 1 pressure in a 31-21 loss to the Jaguars. 

Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DL, Detroit Lions 

Okwara was a healthy scratch in the Lions’ 21-20 win over the Chiefs.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns 

Owusu-Koramoah made 3 tackles in the Browns’ 24-3 win over the Bengals.

Jarrett Patterson (2018-22), OL, Houston Texans

Patterson started at center for the Texans, receiving a 55.9 PFF grade in a 25-9 loss to the Ravens.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams

Skowronek was targeted twice but held off the stat sheet in the Rams’ 30-13 win over the Seahawks.

Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings

Smith made 4 tackles in the Vikings’ 20-17 loss to the Buccaneers, allowing a catch on his lone target for 13 yards.

Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins

Smythe caught 3 passes for 44 yards in the Dolphins’ 36-24 win over the Chargers.

Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Chicago Bears

St. Brown was a healthy scratch in the Bears’ 38-20 loss to the Packers.

Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens

Stanley started at left tackle, receiving a 59.5 PFF grade and allowing 2 pressures, including one sack, in a 25-9 win over the Texans.

Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Las Vegas Raiders 

Tillery started at defensive end and picked up his first sack of the season in the Raiders’ 17-16 win over the Broncos.

Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Kansas City Chiefs

Tranquill played 14 snaps, making 2 tackles and 1 run stop in the Chiefs’ 21-20 loss to the Lions.

Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers

Tremble played 18 snaps and was not targeted in a 24-10 loss to the Falcons.

Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams

Williams carried 15 times for 52 yards in the Rams’ 30-13 win over the Seahawks. He scored 2 touchdowns of 1 and 7 yards, respectively, in the late first and early third quarters. The 2021 Notre Dame leading rusher is off to a hot start.

Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions

Wright caught both his targets for 17 yards in the Lions’ 21-20 win over the Chiefs.