How does new Zack Martin deal impact Dallas Cowboys’ future financial obligations?

SEATTLE — The Cowboys are more than happy now that All-Pro guard Zack Martin is back with the team after a contract holdout.

Jerry Jones, the team owner and general manager, called Martin “indispensable” before his team faced Seattle in its second preseason game Saturday night.

And while Martin’s contract guarantees him $36.5 million over the next two seasons, pushing his average salary to $18 million near the leaders at his position, the Cowboys have some potential financial obligations that need attention.

As Jones said Saturday, finalizing new contracts for wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, linebacker Micah Parsons and quarterback Dak Prescott is problematic.

“It’s going to be more difficult,” Jones said. “We have less money but that’s OK we made (do with what) we don’t have. We put it to good use. It’s going to the right man.”

Of course, the Cowboys’ front office indicated taking care of Martin was an issue. The message from the front office was that you just can’t give players new contracts every time their average salary dips.

Yet, Jerry Jones said two face-to-face meetings with Martin when the Cowboys returned for their preseason opener against Jacksonville opened the door for a new contract.

It was something that was needed because in reality, the players behind Martin aren’t capable of being dependable for a 17-game season. Josh Ball got the start against the Seahawks and the majority of the reps in training camp practices before Martin reported for work.

Ball, a tackle in college, was being asked to move to guard. Yet, after right tackle Matt Waletzko’s early struggles Saturday night — Waletzko allowed Seattle’s Boye Mafe to beat him twice in the first quarter to get pressures on quarterback Cooper Rush — it’s going to be interesting to see if Ball remains at guard. Waletzko left the game after the first quarter with a shoulder injury, so maybe that was part of what prevented him from getting off to a strong start Saturday night.

It would be fair to say the depth issues on the offensive line was one of the reasons the Cowboys elected to get Martin back with the team. However, Stephen Jones, the Cowboys’ executive vice president, said it was more about business.

“I think we’re glad to have Zack and on to the next thing,” Stephen Jones said.

Yes, the next thing.

It starts with Lamb, who will make $17.9 million next season as part of his fifth-year option, and there’s an expectation he might get $20 million on average.

Lamb has proven he’s a No. 1 receiver after taking over for Amari Cooper last year.

Prescott has two years left on his contract and he’s making an average salary of $40 million per season. At the time, some fans and media members thought this was an outrageous average salary for Prescott. Prescott was getting paid fair market value and was smart in seeking a shorter contract extension. Now it’s time to pay again and Justin Herbert ($52.5 million) and Lamar Jackson ($52 million) sit atop the average salary board at quarterback.

Can Prescott reach $50 million in average salary as part of a contract extension?

Jalen Hurts is getting $51 million on average and he’s got a Super Bowl appearance on his resume.

The big one is Parsons.

T.J. Watt of the Steelers signed a deal with $80 million in guarantees followed by the Chargers’ Joey Bosa’s $78 million. Parsons’ guarantees could reach $100 plus million. Then again, whatever the 49ers give Nick Bosa in guaranteed money might set the standard for pass rushers.

Stephen Jones has said he doesn’t want the Cowboys to set the standard in contracts, yet that’s what nearly occurred when Ezekiel Elliott ended his holdout in 2019 to become one of the highest paid at running back, and Prescott got $95 million when he signed his contract.

Parsons gets at least $100 million in guarantees, right?

The Martin deal was something that didn’t seem possible when training camp started, and it’s something that affects everything they do.

No regrets.

“That is the point and that’s what I expressed,” Jerry Jones said. “The facts are, if somebody was going to get it, he’s the right kind [of player at] the right time, obviously he’s the right kind. It’s the right way to do it. I’m satisfied and I’m comfortable with it.”

Twitter: @calvinwatkins

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