The Dallas Cowboys are now navigating life without Zack Martin, the esteemed All-Pro and future Ring of Honor and Hall of Fame inductee who recently held his retirement press conference. With Brian Schottenheimer stepping in as the new head coach, the Cowboys are rethinking their strategy, and replacing a player of Martin’s caliber at right guard will certainly challenge the front office and coaching staff’s “selectively aggressive” approach.

The Cowboys have a long history of heavily investing in the offensive line and supporting coaches who see this group as the team’s backbone. However, with numerous roster gaps for Schottenheimer to address, they need a creative approach that involves nurturing young talent rather than relying on the kind of environment Martin entered, which already included established stars like Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick performing at a high level.

So far, the only external additions to the offensive line in free agency have been Robert Jones and Dakoda Shepley, who unlike in previous offseasons, are not the marquee names the team has acquired. The Cowboys entered this signing period with many needs, and although their unexpected and surprisingly active moves can be criticized, they became necessary due to the team’s lack of depth last season. Despite this, the franchise still prefers drafting for certain positions and relying on younger talent. The Cowboys’ current strategy is evident in the positions they haven’t addressed through signings or trades.

Another crucial aspect of revamping their offensive line is something the Cowboys have emphasized this offseason: the running game. Zack Martin provided insight into this during his press conference. When asked about when he felt adjusted to the NFL after an impressive rookie year in 2014, Martin stated, “I came into a perfect situation for a young offensive lineman. The running game was a big part of what we did. It really allowed me to develop. A lot of young linemen get thrown into the fire throwing the ball 50 times a game. We were running it 30-40 times a game, it allowed me to develop some of those things I wasn’t great at when I first got here.”

Last season, in the eight games started by quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys passed 323 times and ran just 173 times. In their three victories during this period, they defeated the Browns with a +7 passing differential (32 to 25), the Giants with a +4 advantage in passing (27 to 23), and the Steelers with +11 more passes than runs (42-31). When this differential increased to figures like 18 in Week 2, 35 in Week 3, 27 in Week 6, and 29 in Week 9, the Cowboys suffered defeats by 25 points, trailed by 22 in the second half, lost by 38 to the Lions, and fell by six to the Falcons in Prescott’s final game of the year. This was under Mike McCarthy’s offense, which aimed for balance but lacked the personnel to achieve it.

The Cowboys are determined to assemble the personnel needed for a stronger ground game, addressing needs both in the backfield and on the offensive line. A stronger commitment to a running back may be the catalyst for maximizing the developing offensive line, where last year’s rookie starters Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe remain in place, ready to progress under OC Klayton Adams and well-regarded OL coach Conor Riley.

Dallas has acquired new running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders but lost last year’s top performer, Rico Dowdle. The Panthers signing Dowdle made Sanders available, enabling a sort of swap for the Cowboys. A depth chart of Williams, Sanders, Malik Davis, and Deuce Vaughn still falls short of the formidable run game Martin credits with enhancing his early development. This is why many expect Dallas to pursue a running back aggressively early in the draft, leaving the offensive line as the position where they may rely more on existing talent making significant strides. As Martin noted, these elements are interconnected, especially if the Cowboys draft a running back who can make an immediate impact.