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Frisco, Texas — is where many, if not all, NFL games are won or lost. The interior offensive line has to be the strongest point of attack for any team, and the Dallas Cowboys know that all too well. That's why they've frequently invested the right resources to make their offense as impactful as possible — Zack Martin has been leading that charge for a long time.
But will they be as comfortable as they should be going into the 2024 season?
The short answer is, yes, they are in a much better position than they were this time last year. But let's look at its essence.
past: In my last “What's Next?” article, I touched on where the Cowboys' recent offensive tackle journeys began in earnest, including former starting right tackle Terrence Steele in 2022. It also included mention of Lael Collins, who was replaced by . But it would be remiss to mention Collins without remembering his trajectory to the role, since it started at left guard.
You must remember Ronald Leary. He played a role between Travis Frederick and Tyron Smith, and it was Leary who effectively paved the way for the Cowboys to take a chance on the undrafted Collins during injuries. He would eventually replace Leary as the starting left guard, but was moved to RT following the retirement of Doug Free.
And you may remember Frederic, the Hall of Fame talent at center who retired in 2020 due to his ongoing battle with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. He is a unique player (and person), returning for the first time in 2019 en route to his fifth appearance. And a final Pro Bowl nod.
The trio of Leary/Collins, Frederick, and Zach Martin was devastating to opposing defensive lines, something the Cowboys have been trying to get back to for years, and Martin was the only remaining superstar in that lineup. .
Oh, and by the way, Collins will return to the Cowboys in 2023.
the current: Collins has said publicly after his recent signing that he's willing to play wherever the Cowboys want him, and he's not unfamiliar with returning to a guard role if the need arises. But given that both TJ Bass and Brock Hoffman have emerged as young, talented interior linemen who have shown the ability to step in and make an impact as starters when their number is called. should not do.
Looking at Bass in particular, and Hoffman's film in 2023, it's easy to see why the Cowboys — who entered training camp last year with myriad questions about the depth of their interior offensive line — are now unfazed. You'll soon see evidence that it's there. He is talented in that role.
Even better is the fact that Bass was a rookie last season and Hoffman is only in the second year of his young NFL career. That means their still-new tires have years of tread left in them. The same goes for Asim Richards in this regard, but it's unclear what position the former UNC standout will be relegated to in 2024.
Then there's former Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz, who is set to become a free agent in March.
future: If Biadas doesn't agree to a new contract by mid-March, he will become an unrestricted free agent, leaving a huge hole in the middle of the offensive line. His football past) will prepare him for what will happen in front of Dak Prescott and in doing so between Tyler Smith and Zach Martin.
That being said, being flanked by such elite talent should shorten his learning curve, but I'm not sure if the Cowboys feel comfortable parting ways with Biadasz yet, but their He is one-third of the most reliable part of the O-line.
But all things considered, the near future is bright, assuming perennial All-Pro and future first-ballot Hall of Famer right guard Zach Martin stays in uniform for a few more years. But it's also time to at least start having some uncomfortable conversations about what a post-Martin era will look like.
After all, he will be 34 years old before the end of next season, but the fact that he has been Mr. Durable for almost the entirety of his career means that his body is quite worn out. There is.
As I said, this is an uncomfortable conversation to bring up, but it needs to be considered. But it also makes the emergence of Bass and Hoffman even more valuable in 2024 and beyond.
