Nine years spent dominating the trenches have not gone unnoticed.
Cowboys offensive guard Zack Martin was announced as a member of Madden NFL 24's "99 Club" on Wednesday for the first time in his illustrious career.
Martin's inclusion as a player ranked 99 overall is a full-circle moment of sorts -- the last time the honor was bestowed to a guard was when another Dallas legend, Larry Allen, received the game's highest possible rating in Madden 2003.
It's no surprise Martin is the one to pick the mantle back up for Cowboys and guards alike. He's existed in the highest echelon of his position since he entered the league as a first-round pick in 2014, making six All-Pro teams and eight Pro Bowls. In every season the 2010s All-Decade Team member has played more than 10 games, his Cowboys have fielded a top-10 rushing attack.
Although he plays a position occasionally overlooked by virtual gamers, Martin will once again serve an integral role for any looking to grind opponents down with the run or buy precious seconds for game-changing heaves. The 32-year-old vet has been doing that all along in real life.
Martin headlines a group of offensive linemen loaded with talent. Top tackle Trent Williams comes in behind Martin with a 98 overall rating, with Lane Johnson tying him at 98 and Texans franchise tackle Laremy Tunsil coming in at fourth at 95 overall. Veteran center Jason Kelce -- who decided to delay retirement by returning for another season in 2023 -- cracked the top 10 at 92 overall.
Running backs will certainly inspire plenty of debate. Cleveland's Nick Chubb headlines the group at 97 overall, while San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey lands second behind Chubb at 96 overall. Last year's leading rusher, Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, ranks third at 95 overall. And after a resurgent 2022 season, Saquon Barkley found his way back into the top five at 93 overall.
The full top 10 lists of running backs and offensive linemen can be found below:
