Dallas Selects OT Zack Martin In First Round

So we didn’t get Johnny Football. He was available, slipping all the way down to the Browns with the 22nd pick. Instead, with the 16th overall pick, Dallas selects OT Zack Martin out of Notre Dame. Anyone that is disappointed that the Cowboys didn’t select Johnny Manziel can leave – he’s a bust with a big rep and okay talent. We didn’t and still don’t need him.

I’ll call him a guard because, according to Jason Garrett, that’s where he will get his first shot to play for the Cowboys.

[pull_quote_center]“A lot of people argue he can play all five spots on the offensive line,” Garrett said. “So, initially we’ll give him a chance to work inside as an offensive guard and see how he holds up there.”[/pull_quote_center]

Of course he’ll have to win any playing time by beating one of two returning starters at guard from 2013, Mackenzy Bernadeau and Ron Leary. I just wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the rookie’s chances; Smith and Frederick both unseated starters from the prior year (Admittedly, Frederick’s predecessor wasn’t much to compete against), so it’s certainly doable.

Jerry Jones & Co. admitted that they spent a good eight or nine of their 10 minutes on the clock entertaining trade offers from other teams. At first it was a few semi-serious offers, then some firm offers too but Dallas just didn’t see the value in making any of the available trades.

On taking their third first-round offensive linemen in four years, head coach Garrett has this to say.

[pull_quote_center]“You want to address your needs, but you want to address your needs with the best players available,” Garrett said. “We felt like we did that today.”[/pull_quote_center]

Many fans are crying treason after seeing our first-rounder catch another offensive linemen while our beloved team is in such dire need of improvements on the defense – Dallas’ last-place defense in 2013 seems to be a common argument – but as the Cowboys stepped up to the plate they had limited options to choose from. Among which was overreaching to scratch that defensive itch or going with the best player available. Meet Zack Martin.

Jones didn’t rule out further offensive selections for the second and third rounds on day two but he also admitted that defense was and still is a priority for the organization.

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I’ll leave you with a few shots of Martin from college.