October 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
The Dallas Cowboys’ offseason got off to a inauspicious start when franchise great Zack Martin announced his retirement from the NFL.
Martin did not commit to playing a 12th year during last season. The seven-time All-Pro’s durability regressed the last two years as did his performance at right guard. The news was hardly unexpected, but it is always devastating when an all-time great decides to hang ’em up.
Between free agency and the draft, the Cowboys have a cavalcade of roster holes that need plugging. While Martin’s retirement signals a changing of the guard in terms of Dallas transitioning to its next generation of offensive linemen, it creates another glaring pressure point.
The Cowboys are among the best teams in football when it comes to scouting offensive linemen. That’s how they landed stalwarts like Martin, Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Tyler Smith. It would be easy to say they should draft Martin’s replacement, but they seem to have another trick up their sleeve.
Cowboys have genius idea to combat Zack Martin’s retirement
Speaking to reporters at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team is weighing its options at right guard. That includes potentially “looking for a veteran” in free agency or searching internally.
If Dallas doesn’t invest a top pick on a readymade guard, Jones said Brock Hoffman and Cooper Beebe can get the job done, per David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.
Did Jones just hint the Cowboys are considering moving Beebe back to guard? It sure sounds like it. If so, that would be genius. While it would create a need at center, Beebe was one of the most dominant guards in the country at Kansas State before he was drafted.
Beebe started at center from day one and by all accounts showed Pro Bowl potential. It stands to reason, however, that he has a higher ceiling at right guard. He played predominantly left guard at KSU, but we’re talking about a player who made a seamless transition to center with nary a snap of experience at the position in his college career. Moving to RG would be a piece of cake for Beebe.
This would make Hoffman the de facto favorite to start at center. Hoffman started five games at right guard last season filling in for Martin and played over 100 snaps at center. The former undrafted free agent only allowed one sack and six pressures, per PFF.
Hoffman brings an edge and tenacity to the offensive line. That shouldn’t dissuade Dallas from signing a vet or using a draft pick on an interior lineman, but guard and center are rare cases for the Cowboys as far as having internal solutions to big roster questions.
It would also be perfectly fine if Beebe remained at center. The fact Dallas is open to the switch, though, is highly encouraging and hammers home that Klayton Adams and Conor Riley were terrific additions to the coaching staff.
