It wasn’t long ago the Cowboys were facing quite the quandary at the tackle position. On one hand they had a young player with potential they believed in. On the other hand, the growing pains of that development were hard to escape and there weren’t any shortcuts in the developmental process to be found.
It was 2020, and Dallas was entering the season without starting right tackle La’el Collins, who eventually was ruled out for the year after a season-ending hip injury. The Cowboys had signed journeyman Cameron Erving in the offseason and many expected him to get the nod, but it filled few with a ton of hope. With no other proven depth on the roster, in the mix was a pair of undrafted reserves, Brandon Knight and Terence Steele.
Knight, a one-year veteran, appeared to be the safer option to play the left, while Steele was a rookie whose skillset better fit the right. Steele got the start at right tackle in the season opener and never gave up the post, playing in 16 games his rookie season. Knight would go on to have an adventurous season as well, replacing Tyron Smith in week No. 2 and starting nine games for the Cowboys at left tackle.
To say both young tackles struggled that season may be a bit of an understatement. While they flashed potential, they also showed their undrafted roots. Both players had pass protection issues and ranked near the bottom of the NFL in Pro Football Focus grades.
Of the 79 offensive tackles graded in 2020, Steele ranked No. 76. But the Cowboys saw something in the 6-foot-6, 310-pound tackle and it was enough for them to roll the dice with him again in 2021.
Steele showed progression in his second season, improving in both phases of the game. His pass protection was still a liability but his run blocking was making up for it. He finished the 2021 season ranked No. 55 by PFF.
This progression continued in 2022, with Steele rocketing up to No. 23 on PFF’s list. His run-blocking prowess turned to dominance and Steele graded out as the sixth-best run blocking tackle in the NFL. Before a knee injury ended his 2022 season prematurely, he was arguably the top run blocker on the Dallas line and possibly even a success story for the ages.
Will the Cowboys be able to recreate a similarly successful arc for Josh Ball?