Since Joe Burrow entered the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals have struggled to protect their quarterback. Because of this, the team should consider pursuing Dallas Cowboys pending free agent guard Zack Martin.

Last season, the Bengals allowed 48 sacks, tying for the 11th-most in the league. This was a slight improvement from the 50 sacks allowed the previous year, but still not ideal.

The team’s guard play was especially poor. Alex Cappa, who is set to become a free agent, gave up eight sacks and 51 total pressures over 774 pass-blocking snaps. Cordell Volson, a 2022 fourth-round pick, was a bit better but still allowed six sacks and 43 total pressures.

Given Cincinnati’s need at guard, TWSN’s Blake Meek predicts the Bengals will target Martin in free agency this offseason.

“Bringing in a veteran guard like Zack Martin would not only help Burrow but also strengthen the offensive line, particularly Amarius Mims,” Meek wrote. “Martin shouldn’t be an extremely expensive signing due to his age. Although the Bengals typically avoid signing older veterans, they should make an exception in this case.”

A nine-time Pro Bowler and seven-time first-team All-Pro, Martin has been one of the best interior linemen in the NFL and is likely a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

However, he’s set to turn 35 in November and showed possible signs of decline last season with Dallas. According to Pro Football Focus, Martin allowed five sacks and 24 pressures, both the highest numbers of his career. Even so, those figures would still represent an improvement for Cincinnati.

It’s worth noting that Martin played through injury last season before his 11th year in the NFL was cut short. He had been dealing with an ankle issue, and when the other ankle started to trouble him, it ended his season. That could explain his subpar pass protection numbers.

“It’s something I’ve been dealing with all year, dating back to training camp, and really for the last few years,” Martin said about his ankle. “We took a couple of weeks to try healing and tried different treatments. But after some field workouts on Monday, it just didn’t respond well.”

According to Spotrac, after signing a two-year, $36 million deal a few years ago, Martin is expected to receive a one-year, $9.1 million contract in free agency this offseason.

The Bengals are in a strong position financially, with a projected $46.5 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. With the offensive line a key need, Cincinnati should use some of that cap space to sign a proven veteran like Martin, who could be interested in joining a team that offers him a chance to compete.