NFL Rumors: Zack Martin, Chris Jones 'Not Close to a Resolution' on Contract Holdouts

Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin and Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones reportedly aren't nearing an end to their respective training camp holdouts.

During an appearance Friday on the Pat McAfee Show, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said he doesn't "get the sense" that the Martin and Jones holdouts are "close to a resolution."

Martin, who has two years left on his current contract, is in search of a new deal, as is Jones, who can become a free agent at the end of the 2023 season.

The 32-year-old Martin has long been considered the best right guard in the NFL, earning eight Pro Bowl nods and six first-team All-Pro selections in nine seasons since going 16th overall in the 2014 NFL draft.

Martin signed a six-year, $84 million extension in 2018 that made him the NFL's highest-paid guard, but he no longer owns that distinction.

Per Spotrac, Martin is now the 10th-highest-paid guard in the NFL in terms of average annual value at $14 million. Chris Lindstrom of the Atlanta Falcons paces the position at $20.5 million.

Martin has undoubtedly earned the right to be at or near the top of the compensation chart for guards, and given that the Cowboys currently have the third-most salary cap space in the NFL at $19.6 million, per OverTheCap.com, Dallas has the means to make it happen.

Like Martin, Jones is coming off a first-team All-Pro season, and he also enjoyed the best statistical year of his career in 2022.

The 29-year-old Jones played in every game for the first time since 2018 and finished with a career-high 44 tackles and 15.5 sacks, as well as 17 tackles for loss.

Jones finished third in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting, and he had two sacks in three playoff games for a Chiefs team that won the Super Bowl.

In 2020, Jones signed a four-year, $80 million contract extension, and his average annual value of $20 million ranks eighth in the NFL among defensive tackles, per Spotrac.

Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams is first at a whopping $31.6 million, followed by Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets at $24 million.

Jones' numbers dictate that he should perhaps match or surpass Williams' AAV with his next deal, although the Chiefs are presently strapped for cash.

According to OverTheCap.com, the Chiefs have the second-least cap space in the NFL at just $748,038.

Signing Jones to a new deal could actually free up additional cap space for 2023, but it could create some financial pitfalls for the organization further down the line.

Ultimately, Martin and Jones are among the best players at their respective positions in the NFL, and both the Cowboys' and Chiefs' chances of Super Bowl contention go down significantly without them.