NFL Rumors: Doug Martin Hitting Free Agency, Possibly Signing With Dallas Cowboys

NFL rumors have been swirling around the Dallas Cowboys looking to upgrade their running back position for several months now. According to Sports Illustrated, Doug Martin and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been unable to reach an agreement on a new contract, to the two-time Pro Bowl player will be hitting free agency. Martin and the Cowboys could end up being exactly what the other needed.

In 2015, Doug Martin was heading into the final year of his contract, a time where a lot of players push a little harder because they know they can increase the size of their paychecks by doing so. Martin had 1,402 yards and six touchdowns, which was good enough to earn him a spot in the Pro Bowl game. It also put him in a spot where he could see which team in the NFL would be willing to pay the most amount of money to acquire his services.

On Monday, Doug Martin will be legally allowed to speak to NFL teams about their interest in signing him. The former Boise State Broncos star will chat with head coaches and offensive coordinators to see what type of fit he will be on their team. Free agency officially starts on Wednesday, so that will be the first day that Martin can make his big decision. While there’s still a chance that he will return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Martin is more than likely out the door.

Considering how solid he has been as a runner, it makes a lot of sense for Doug Martin and his agent to seek out as much money as they can. Running backs, especially those that run as tough as Martin, have a certain amount of shelf life in the NFL. Cashing in as soon as possible is the wise business decision, much like what DeMarco Murray did when he left the Dallas Cowboys for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Unfortunately for Doug Martin, the money might not be as big as he had hoped. The NFL has changed, and it is now harder for running backs to get a gigantic piece of the pie. That belongs to quarterbacks, wide receivers, and defensive ends. However, Martin isn’t going to be starving because there’s still some money out there. DeMarco Murray was able to convince the Philadelphia Eagles to give him $30 million, which is nothing to sneeze at.

A team that might be willing to pay good money for Doug Martin is the Dallas Cowboys. Team owner Jerry Jones has now realized that the position is much more important than he initially thought when he allowed DeMarco Murray to leave for the Philadelphia Eagles. Jones was under the impression that any running back could do well behind the fantastic offensive line that Dallas has constructed over the past couple of years using the NFL Draft.

For Doug Martin, the Dallas Cowboys would be a very appealing option. The team is constantly in the spotlight, something which might be refreshing because he was largely ignored because he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The media basically focuses on Jameis Winston whenever they talk about the Buccaneers. Running behind an offensive line that consists of Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin and La’el Collins might also be quite appealing to Martin.

Though things are unclear right now, the only thing close to certainty next season is that Doug Martin is going to be given a nice contract by an NFL team that wants to upgrade their ground game. He’s good enough that executives and head coaches will want to give him a chance. Jerry Jones just might be that guy to do that.

[Featured Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images]