Stephen Jones: Hopefully making progress on Zack Martin extension

The Dallas Cowboys continue to work on an extension with All-Pro right guard Zack Martin.

Both sides have expressed an interest in reaching a long-term deal, but nothing has been agreed upon yet. Executive vice president Stephen Jones hopes the organization and Martin can reach an agreement before the regular season opener on Sept. 10 vs. the New York Giants.

“Hopefully making some progress, but those things you can’t really comment on them until they’re either done or not done,” Jones said at the Cowboys’ kickoff luncheon Wednesday at AT&T Stadium.

“So obviously the goal for both sides is to be done with everything by the [beginning] of the season.”

Martin is headed toward a significant pay day, as he is widely regarded as one of the top guards in the league, if not the best. He’s earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2014 and 2016 and second-team honors in 2015.

Martin has allowed just six sacks and been called for 13 penalties in his three-year career.

Martin’s contract is expected to surpass the one the Cleveland Browns handed to Kevin Zeitler, who became the highest-paid guard this offseason with a five-year, $60 million deal.

Martin, 26, is under Cowboys control for the next two seasons. The organization exercised their fifth-year option on him during the offseason, which means Martin would be paid $9.3 million in 2018 if no extension is reached.

The Cowboys have had success in recent years locking up offensive linemen to long-term deals with left tackle Tyron Smith and center Travis Frederick.

This story was originally published August 30, 2017 at 4:50 PM with the headline "Stephen Jones: Hopefully making progress on Zack Martin extension."