The Dallas Cowboys have had right guard locked down for more than a decade thanks to the legendary play of guard Zack Martin, but 2025 may be the year where he is finally pushed out of the picture. Due to age and attrition, the Cowboys may try to cleanly break away from old reliable and move in a new direction.

If Martin wants to play in 2025, he will have no shortage of teams who will try to poach him away from Dallas. One contender, who has a need at guard, might be able to steal Martin away and give him a chance to finally experience what it feels like to play in a Super Bowl.

ESPN believes the Kansas City Chiefs, who seem resigned to the fact that expensive free agent Trey Smith is not going to stay around for one more year, could be in on the Martin sweepstakes. If Martin is going to play next year, Kansas City may be the best fit for him.

Cowboys guard Zack Martin projected to sign with Chiefs in free agency

Martin started to look mortal in the last few years, looking like the furthest thing from a player who has been named an All-Pro in every season with more than 10 games played. Martin could very well end up retiring, as he is starting to break down physically following a slight decline in his performance.

However, the Chiefs will be in the market for a player who can instantly fill a starting role with more aplomb than second-year depth piece Hunter Nourzad. Next to Creed Humphrey and Jawaan Taylor, Martin should have enough protection around him to get back on the proverbial right track.

No matter what the Chiefs end up doing, it seems more likely than ever that Martin won’t be the starting right guard for the first time in more than a decade. Martin leaves with a legacy as one of the greatest Cowbys ever and best guards in NFL history.

Martin may not be what he once was, but there could be some appeal to giving it one more go with Kansas City. Watching Martin get a chance to finally hoist a Lombardi Trophy after years of aggressively mediocre play might be a fitting end for his amazing career, however.

Cowboys fans hold it against the organization that previous franchise greats like DeMarcus Ware, Tyron Smith and Jason Witten never won a ring in Dallas. Maybe Martin will follow Ware’s career path and win a Super Bowl with another organization.