The All-Pro teams are out, and two Cowboys players are on the list for the second-team.
The Cowboys, 9-7, will obviously not be playing this weekend, but two of their players earned honors when the All-Pro teams were revealed on Friday morning. Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence and right guard Zack Martin were each selected as among the best at their respective positions for their individual performances over the course of the 2017 season, as they were both named to the Associated Press’ second-team.
Zack Martin lands on the All-Pro team for the fourth consecutive season; the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman has cemented himself as one of the best interior linemen in the entire sport since being selected with the 16th overall selection of the 2014 NFL Draft. Martin has been one of the team’s best players since starting as a rookie, and he is one of the franchise’s building blocks as they continue to build around 2016 Pro Bowl quarterback Dak Prescott and 2016 All-Pro running back Ezekiel Elliott on the offensive side of the football. Martin hopes that he and the Cowboys are able to reach a contract extension this offseason.
Demarcus Lawrence earned his first spot on the list, making the second-team at defensive end. Lawrence was also selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, and the 25-year old edge rusher burst onto the scene in a huge way this past season. Although he had showed flashes of potential in spurts, Lawrence was never able to get over the injury bug.
In 2017, though, the Tank was finally healthy and made opposing offensive tackles and quarterbacks pay. Lawrence finished his fourth professional season with 58 total tackles, 35 solo tackles, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. The stat that really catches peoples’ eyes is his whopping sack total - 14.5 on the season.
The Cowboys will look to bring Lawrence back, his contract is up this offseason. Whether the Cowboys place the franchise tag on him or reward him with a long-term deal, Tank expects to be playing with the star on his helmet in 2018.
Case in point: D-Law was asked today if, at any point during the game, he considered that it might be his last as a Cowboy.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) December 31, 2017
His response: “Hell nah”
Both Martin and Lawrence join left tackle Tyron Smith and center Travis Frederick on the Pro Bowl roster, a game played in Orlando later this month.