Cowboys in danger of losing two expensive star players: Will Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence walk in free agency?

Things are looking bleak for the future of America’s Team, and they’ve got no one to blame but themselves. In the offseason, the Cowboys signed quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to massive contract extensions, and edge rusher Micah Parsons is next in line after this season.

Despite the big spending, the Cowboys are 3-5 and in third place in the NFC East. Adding insult to injury (or injury to insult in this case?), Prescott is dealing with a potentially season-ending injury, Lamb is working through a shoulder issue, and Parsons has been out with an injury since Week 4.

With this season looking like it’s already down the garbage chute, I wish we could say there is hope for next season, but at that point, there will be a whole new mess of problems to deal with.

Two Dallas stars could walk in the offseason

The Cowboys will keep Parsons around, whether they wait all offseason to extend him like they did with CeeDee or not. It’ll happen. But two players they should like to keep around may not be after this season.

Nine-time Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin and four-time Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will become free agents at the end of this season and there will be plenty of suitors for both of them, with rumors already swirling about which teams those might be.

Martin was signed to a contract extension in 2018 worth $84 million initially, but it was restructured to add another year at the back end. After 11 years in Dallas, the 33-year-old veteran won’t be seeking another contract quite at that level, but he will be expecting to be well-paid. The Cowboys may not be willing to pay what he may ask. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox suggested the Los Angeles Chargers as a potential landing spot for Martin if the Cowboys let him walk.

“Martin is a seven-time first-team All-Pro who remains one of the better starting guards in the NFL. He can still get moving downhill in the running game too, and has been one of the few bright spots of an otherwise ugly Cowboys rushing attack,” Knox said.

“The Chargers may also want to consider Martin as an upgrade over Trey Pipkins III at right guard. Los Angeles has a terrific pair of tackles in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, but the interior line leaves something to be desired.”

DeMarcus Lawrence was injured after four games this season and hasn’t been able to return yet, but before he was injured, he had 14 tackles, four for a loss, 10 quarterback pressures, and a forced fumble. He’ll definitely be a player other teams will be looking at, and as a veteran, he may want to continue his NFL career with a team that has actual hopes of a title run.

Like Martin, Lawrence has been with the Cowboys for 11 seasons. He signed a three-year, $40 million contract back in 2022. With the Cowboys paying for Prescott’s $240 million and Lamb’s $136 million through 2028, plus whatever Parsons ends up costing, they may let him walk as well. Knox predicted Lawrence could end up with the Detroit Lions instead.

“Lawrence should appeal to teams seeking pass-rush help or an improved run defense, though he’s best suited for those utilizing a four-man front,” Knox said. “Lawrence would find a terrific fit with the Lions, who should have star edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson back by the spring. Hutchinson will remain Detroit’s primary pass-rusher, but the Lions desperately need a high-end complement."