Tag: Tyler Guyton

Cowboys’ 2024 draft decision proven wise with recent extensions across league

The Cowboys decision to draft an OT in the draft is looking smarter by the day, says @ReidDHanson.

The Cowboys front office is living in a cloud of criticism following their tragically disappointing offseason that seemed more concerned with saving money than improving the roster. But not all offseason decisions from the front office deserve criticism. In fact, some deserve praise.

The 2024 NFL draft, an event that feels eons ago but was really just three months back, had Cowboys Nation fairly split. Some fans prioritized offensive tackle while others wanted center. Some were open to a running back while others saw value at receiver. Linebackers headlined some lists while defensive tackle took center stage on others.

Plagued with more roster needs than premium draft picks, the Cowboys had to get creative an prioritize as they made their selections. A compelling argument could be made for any of the above stated positions, but some clearly stuck out as more important than others.

Positional value is something discussed every year, yet every year it’s met with resistance. The idea that some positions are more impactful than others, makes sense in theory but in application, is often met with resistance.

The drafting of Tyler Guyton in the first round illustrated some of that resistance. Guyton, an OT, filled a need in Dallas and played a high value position. He wasn’t regraded as a top-five prospect at the OT position, but he represented good value if he eventually develops up to his impressive ceiling. Based on the position he played, he represented good use of a first-round pick.

Tackle is one of the most important positions in the NFL. Often playing on an island and facing off against the best athletes on the planet, one botched play from an OT could decide a game or even end a season. From a purely positional basis, the selection was a wise one of the Cowboys.

Many in Cowboys Nation aggressively made the case for a center. A dominant player, in the vein of Travis Frederick, could be found late in the first round. Centers often fall on draft boards so an OC1 of the class can typically be found. But the position isn’t generally viewed as overly pivotal and great players can typically be found in later portions of the draft.

The Cowboys wisely chose tackle and a recent contract extension with OT Christian Darrisaw proved it. Darrisaw, the Vikings draft selection at Pick 23 in 2021, agreed to a new four-year, $113 million extension with Minnesota. His AAV of $28,250,000 makes him the highest paid tackle in the league. A fair price for a 25-year up-and-comer playing a high value position, but steep nonetheless considering he’s had neither an All-Pro nor Pro Bowl season yet.

The surplus value of an OT draft pick, which is the difference between a rookie contract value and a veteran contract value, is enormous compared to that of an OC. It’s good business to invest in high value positions because of the importance they play on the field and the money they can save a franchise by playing on a low-cost rookie deal.

None of this matters, of course, if Guyton doesn’t develop into a good starting left tackle at some point.

The Cowboys have him slotted behind Chuma Edoga on the depth chart and seem determined to make the rookie earn his spot, to the dismay of many. But at a time when the whole world is piling on the Cowboys’ top brass for their mesmerizingly poor offseason, let us give credit for a smart positional decision made in the draft.

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Alleged Cowboys’ Tyler Guyton strategy under intense scrutiny, fire

The idea of the Cowboys slowly developing Tyler Guyton behind Chuma Edoga is flawed and should be reconsidered. | From @ReidDHanson

Training camp couldn’t get here fast enough for the Cowboys. After facing an offseason of criticism, anger and general disgust from the fanbase, only the annual hype-fest known as Cowboy Camp can get fan sentiments moving in a positive direction.

Training camp typically brings hope to even the most hopeless of teams. For the Cowboys it’s a tool that’s often used to turn the page on the offseason while building marketability and positivity for the franchise. The circus-like atmosphere resembles that of a pep rally. Naysayers need not attend.

But this year, not even training camp can save the Cowboys from the well justified negativity they’re facing. Coming out an offseason that was disappointing even by local standards, the Cowboys threaten to slow-play the development of their top rookie draft pick, opting for a plateaued veteran with little upside instead.

According to Cowboys insider Bobby Belt, the Cowboys are likely starting Chuma Edoga, not Tyler Guyton, at left tackle when camp opens up.

“I think it is almost a certainty that Chuma Edoga is at left tackle for the first practice,” said Belt via The Love of the Star podcast. “I think it’s likely he’s at left tackle for the first game. And I think it’s possible he’s at left tackle the entire season.”

The idea of the Cowboys developing their top rookie in the background was not well received. If Dallas intended to take a delayed approach with their rookie’s development, why didn’t they re-sign Tyron Smith for one more season back in March? Smith only signed a two-year, $6,500,000 deal after all.

Fans know what they have in Edoga. The journeyman has struggled in pass protection since joining the NFL and has largely been relegated to backup duty at all three of his stops. The idea of wasting valuable practice snaps on a veteran with little upside has been enraging fans across Cowboys Nation.

With CBA limitations in place, live snaps are valuable for everyone, especially a rookie like Guyton. Cohesion across the offensive line takes time. Wasting the already limited number of snaps on someone who’s not considered the solution is nothing short of irresponsible.

Growing pains are a given, but the lumps have to come eventually so the Cowboys might as well throw their rookie into the fire. If he looks like a disaster throughout training camp, then, and only then, should the Cowboys look to their veteran. Veteran backup tackles are supposed to be ready to go at a moment’s notice. Edoga doesn’t need the practice reps Guyton does.

Even if the Cowboys are just going through the motions in camp in order to give the appearance Guyton earns his spot in the starting lineup, the logic is flawed. He needs reps and he needs them next to the people he’s hopefully going to play with.

It’s one thing after another with the Cowboys this offseason and training camp may not be able to suture the situation. Hopefully the reports are wrong or hopefully the Cowboys reconsider the Guyton strategy, because slow playing his development on Day 1 isn’t the answer.

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The hardest position Cowboys have to replace in 2024 is…

It’s hard to envision any situation where the Cowboys LT play improves in 2024, and that’s going to make things very difficult. | From @ReidDHanson

The 2024 offseason will go down as an offseason of disappointment for many Cowboys fans. Not only did they fail to re-sign any of their major pieces on their roster, but they lost a handful of critical components as well. Replacing the lost players will be no simple task.

The cupboards are bare in the Cowboys running backroom. Tony Pollard left in free agency and Dallas decided to skip the position entirely in the draft. Johnathan Hankins departure left the Cowboys defensive tackle position in a sorry state. It was a position that performed poorly in 2023 and looks markedly worse here in 2024.

Receiver is also left in a worrisome state after Michael Gallup was let go. The Cowboys don’t have a clear replacement option ready and waiting and could be dangerously thin if CeeDee Lamb holds out for an extended period of time. None of those positions will be easy to replace this season but their difficulty pales in comparison to that of the left tackle position.

For over a decade, Tyron Smith was a fixture at LT for the Cowboys. He was an elite pass protector who was frequently left alone on an island, protecting Dak Prescott’s blindside from some of the most feared pass rushers on the planet. Reliability and diminishing play in the running game ultimately led to his departure. Now the Cowboys enter training camp with a rookie penciled as the eventual heir at LT.

Tyler Guyton, the Cowboys 2024 first-round pick, is the man the Cowboys hope to replace Smith with. Whether that happens on Day 1 or not is unknown at this time, what can be agreed on is whoever takes over at LT will have some pretty big shoes to fill.

Chuma Edoga, a player many expect to be the backup plan if Guyton isn’t up to the task, isn’t a great solution to the LT problem either. The five-year veteran has struggled throughout his career in pass protection, most recently allowing three sacks, 16 pressures and committing three penalties in 251 pass blocking situations.

Guyton himself enters as an abnormally raw first round pick. He’s athletically gifted but needs development time before he can be trusted in a way Smith was previously trusted. Unless Tyler Smith, the expected starting left guard, inexplicably moves to tackle, a step back at the LT position is expected.

Looking at the other positions, it’s not unrealistic to think someone will step up and do better than the man he replaces. Pollard’s 2023 season wasn’t terribly efficient so it’s perfectly possible Rico Dowdle and company could represent a mild improvement this year if the run blocking improves as expected.

Gallup struggled most the 2023 season so replacing him won’t be an impossible task for the Cowboys. Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks could both be up for the task, as could a handful of other unproven players waiting in the wings.

Hankins was a big loss but not because he was dominant by any means, but because the Cowboys did little to replace him. If either Mazi Smith or Justin Rogers can just rise up to average they would represent an improvement over Hankins.

It’s that LT position that’s going to be difficult to replace for the Cowboys. Even under a best-case scenario, Dallas will struggle to meet the level of play they got from Smith in 2023. It’s important the accept this because then they can scheme to minimize its impact on the offense

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ESPN thinks this is Oklahoma’s biggest question mark

The 2024 season for the Oklahoma Sooners could hinge on one position group, says ESPN.

Every year, college football teams have strengths and weaknesses on paper before the season begins. During the season, we see what the actual problem areas are and if they get fixed during the season or doom that year’s squad.

The Oklahoma Sooners have plenty of strengths on paper. They’re loaded at wide receiver. The linebacker room is filled with talent. The secondary is strong throughout. But, there are some weaker spots on [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ third team at OU.

ESPN asked its reporters to identify the question marks for each of their Top 25 teams before fall camps begin. The staff has OU ranked No. 18 in the nation heading into the season and eighth in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

It is no surprise that Oklahoma’s offensive line that was named the biggest question mark exiting [autotag]SEC media days[/autotag]. Here’s what ESPN’s Dave Wilson had to say regarding the often-talked-about unit:

The Sooners lost their entire starting offensive line, including first-round pick [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] and nine O-lineman in total. They added [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] from Michigan State, [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag] from Washington,  [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] from North Texas and [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag]  from USC along with four incoming freshmen, then added a big piece in SMU center [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] after the spring portal. Brent Venables said they will need contributions from all of them, but added that he has complete confidence in line coach [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag], who has helped produce 13 NFL draft picks in the past 10 years. But with a grueling schedule in Year 1 in the SEC, it’s not an ideal time for an offensive line rebuild. – Wilson, ESPN

Bill Bedenbaugh’s presence is key for the Sooners. He’s one of the best offensive line coaches in college football. If he can find a unit of five that will jell as a group, then Oklahoma could turn a weakness into a strength. The [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] additions were key for Bedenbuagh, especially Hickman at center. Some combination of four players around him will need to step up in preseason camp and separate themselves from the pack.

Oklahoma’s performance along the offensive line could make or break its  season. If they’re better than expected early, quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and the many weapons in the passing game will be given a chance to shine. [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and the running backs will be given room to run wild. The defense will not have as much pressure placed on it to control games early, especially with a bit of reshuffling on the defensive line. The special teams will not have such a spotlight placed on every move it makes if the offense is dominant. Venables and the coaching staff will not have as many high-pressure decisions to make.

If the offensive line struggles or is a liability, Arnold’s youth could show with added heat on him. Mistakes could be made, despite having plenty of receivers to throw to. He will not get any help from the running game. The defense will have to win games by themselves, which will not hold up all year. The special teams will face more pressure to put points on the board or flip the field when the offense stalls out. The coaches will find themselves in more close games, where the stakes rise with every passing snap.

A good offensive line will be paramount if the Sooners want to have success moving from the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] to the SEC. Venables trusts Bedenbaugh, as he should, and Bedenbaugh will rely on his young returning players and transfer additions to pave the way for Oklahoma in 2024.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.

College Football expert says it all starts up front for Oklahoma’s offense

On3’s J.D. PicKell says the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line is the key to the 2024 season.

It’s been an offseason of transition for the Oklahoma Sooners. A new quarterback, new coordinators, and a new conference have highlighted much of the change that is being experienced in Norman.

But at no spot is turnover more deeply felt than along the offensive line. Gone are [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag], [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag], [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag], and [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag], who are preparing for their first NFL training camps. Gone is [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag], who transferred to Missouri.

Those five players played an average of 762.2 snaps for the Sooners last season. Raym, Mettauer, and Rouse led the way for the Sooners offense in snap counts, according to Pro Football Focus.

It’s no small task to replace that much experience. And with a unit like offensive line where so much depends on the chemistry, communication, and continuity of the unit, the turnover is significant.

Oklahoma did a lot over the offseason to help replace the lost experience. They added [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag], [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag], [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag], and [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] through the transfer portal. That group of five brings a lot of snaps at the collegiate level to combine with Bill Bedenbaugh’s blue-chip recruits that he’s been developing the last couple of years.

Tarquin, Hatchett, Hickman, and Nwaiwu each figure to compete for a role or will start for the Sooners week one against Temple. Mix in ascending players like [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag] and [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag], four-star offensive tackles in the [autotag]2022 recruiting class[/autotag], and four-star interior offensive linemen from the 2023 recruiting class [autotag]Heath Ozaeta[/autotag] and [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag], and the Sooners have options along the offensive line.

If there’s any position group that will determine how much success the Sooners have this season, it’s the offensive line. But On3’s J.D. PicKell argues that if the Sooners get good offensive line play, all of the other pieces are there for OU to be dynamic on offense once again.

“If you give him time to throw the football, they’re gonna have a chance to make some real noise and kind of rattle the cage in the SEC a little bit their first year out there because they replace pretty much the whole offensive line that’s been well documented.”

PicKell goes on to say, “But if they can make that mechanism work the way that it needs to give him time to get through his reads and progress and get comfortable. They got more than enough firepower that wide receiver room to make some shake.”

The talent that Oklahoma has at wide receiver, quarterback, and running back is impressive. Led by quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], the Sooners have the players capable of creating another explosive offense. But Arnold will need time to throw and Sawchuk will need lanes to run through.

There is enough talent and experience in Norman for offensive line wizard [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] to put another strong unit together once again. We’ve seen him do it before and when fall camp gets underway, competition will provide the answers up front to help lead this team into the SEC.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Raise the Rook: Cowboys must adjust to Tyler Guyton’s possible weaknesses

Since Tyler Guyton has struggled in true pass sets, the Cowboys must adapt when building their 2024 offfensive attack. | From @ReidDHanson

There are many ways for a smart coach to make things easier on his passing offense and the Cowboys may need to consider changes with a rookie left tackle in tow. Motion at the snap, rub routes, RPOs, screen passes, and play-action are just a few of the ways to get the ball out quickly, accurately, and to the first read. Teams with young or limited quarterbacks will lean on these tricks often. It puts them in position to succeed because it makes things quick and easy.

Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys haven’t seen a need for tricks such as this. Dak Prescott is one of the smarter QBs in the league, well known for his accurate pre-snap reads. His ability to stand in the pocket, move through progressions and deliver timely passes is some of the best in the NFL. Prescott’s 480 attempts in non-play-action dropbacks ranked sixth in the NFL in 2023. His passing grade of 87.5 in these situations ranked second league-wide, trailing only Patrick Mahomes.

What does any of this have to do with Tyler Guyton?

Everything.

Standard pass sets in a gimmick-free offense means maximum exposure for pass-protecting linemen. Play-action buys time with the run fake and first-read schemed passes keep the TTT down, but pass protecting in true pass sets ups the difficulty level for passers and pass protectors alike.

Guyton comes to Dallas as an abnormally inexperienced first-round draft pick. He’s raw in his development and untested in many responsibilities. Per Pro Football Focus, he only has 111 true pass set snaps which make up only 20 percent of his overall workload (lowest in his class).

Assuming he wins the starting LT job, the Cowboys will try to protect Guyton as much as possible, but since they can’t protect him all the time, he’ll have his work cut out for him in 2024.

Guyton’s pressure rate allowed at Oklahoma was a trusty 3.3%. It wasn’t as good as class leaders Joe Alt or Olu Fashanu, but it put him in elite company. That number slips, however, when just looking at true pass sets. His pressure rate in true pass sets balloons to 6.2% making for a significant swing from one type of blocking assignment to the next.

Recent draft picks with a college pressure rate of over 6.2% in true pass sets are players like Charles Cross, Christian Darrisaw, Andrew Thomas and Mechi Becton. It’s a concern but based on the names listed, it’s hardly a death sentence.

Given Guyton’s extremely limited experience in true pass sets, McCarthy may want to meet him halfway in his blocking assignments. Engineering more first-read plays on the back of motion and play-action is a great way to simplify things for Guyton as a rookie.  A steady dose of screen passes is another previously prescribed solution.

At the end of the day, playing on an island in true pass sets is going to be an unavoidable reality for the rookie LT. It’s something to monitor in training camp because if he’s not up the task the offense may have to fundamentally change.

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3 reasons the Oklahoma Sooners will win big in 2024

The Oklahoma Sooners are a talented football team, but for them to win big, these three things have to happen.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a better idea of what the 2024 season will look like with the SEC’s release of game time windows on Tuesday. How they and the Texas Longhorns will fare in their first year in the SEC is anyone’s guess.

Texas made the playoffs last season, and the Sooners are one of the winningest programs over the last 25 years. [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] was brought in to prepare Oklahoma for this conference move.

His experience with the Clemson Tigers certainly informs Venables about what it takes to be successful in their new conference home. Each of his first three offseasons has been about getting Oklahoma “SEC ready.”

At the same time, the Sooners provide a new challenge for Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee and LSU. OU is considered a blue-blood program for a reason. With seven national titles and 50 conference championships, the Sooners will be a contender in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Can they do it in Year 1? That’s the question everyone’s asking. Here are three reasons OU will win big in 2024 and make the College Football Playoff.

More: College Football Playoff Projections for 2024

Up Next: 3 reasons OU wins big in 2024

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Cowboys offensive tackle bookends looking up at NFL tandems

According to one list, no Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle was listed among the Top 32 options in the league for 2024. | From @BenGrimaldi

The Dallas Cowboys are going through a period of transition along their offensive line this offseason and that led to the team drafting two linemen this past April. Tyler Guyton, their first-round selection, was a right tackle who will be moving to the left side with the Cowboys.

Despite his immense potential, Guyton remains an unknown, leaving the offensive line without a top tackle for the first time in a long time. PFF recently ranked the Top 32 tackles in the NFL ahead of the 2024 season and no Dallas player made the cut.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that neither Guyton, nor starting right tackle Terence Steele made the list. Guyton will be a rookie protecting quarterback Dak Prescott’s blind side, and it’ll be a switch in sides for the young LT. Dallas believes Guyton has what it takes to become another of their All-Pro caliber offensive linemen drafted, but he’ll have a bumpy road on the way to hopefully making the list in the coming years.

The Cowboys know what they’re doing when it comes to drafting offensive line prospects. Since they drafted LT Tyron Smith in the first round of the 2011 draft, each of their four first-round OL picks have become All-Pros, and it’s never taken them longer than three years to achieve that honor.

On the right side, Steele needs to rebound from a rough year. The Cowboys put their faith in him after two solid campaigns at RT and gave him a hefty contract extension before the 2023 season began. Unfortunately, the veteran RT was coming off a torn ACL injury and wasn’t the same player. The expectation is that Steele will be back to his old self another year further away from the serious injury.

When he’s healthy, Steele is a good RT who excels in paving the way for the running game as one of the better run blockers in the league. He’s never made a Pro Bowl, but with his work ethic and the improvement he’s shown throughout his career, Steele is capable of being a Top 10 RT. However, it’s no surprise he didn’t find his way onto the list.

What is interesting about the rankings from PFF is who did manage to be named among the top tackles. Former Cowboy and current New York Jets LT Tyron Smith ranked as the seventh best tackle in the league, which shouldn’t come as a shock. When healthy, Smith is one of the best LTs in the league and is coming off an All-Pro year. The veteran LT routinely found his way on this list when he was a member of the Cowboys, yet he wasn’t retained for the upcoming year.

The Philadelphia Eagles have both of their tackles listed among the Top 10 in the league. LT Jordan Mailata came in at number five on the list, while RT Lane Johnson was right behind him, ranking sixth. It’s disheartening to see rivals rank so highly on a list where the home team isn’t represented.

Another NFC East team was also represented, New York Giants LT Andrew Thomas was listed as the 11th best tackle in the league. It was an injury-plagued year for Thomas in 2023, but in 2022, the LT was among the best LTs in the game.

Dallas’ defense will line up against 15 of the Top 32 tackles and will play against five teams who have two tackles ranked inside the list. The Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all have their bookend tackles ranked inside the Top 32. In total, the Cowboys will play 10 games against some of the top tackles in the league. San Francisco 49ers’ LT Trent Williams topped the list, and Dallas will line up against him in Week 8.

It’s been a long time since there wasn’t a Cowboys tackle rated highly around the league. Smith was a staple among the top talents at the position, but the team decided not to bring him back for a 14th season. With a rookie and a rebound candidate at both tackle spots, the Cowboys have the potential to have someone on the list for next season, but they don’t have an elite tackle on the roster in 2024.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi

New Orleans Saints game previews: Week 2 at Dallas Cowboys

Our New Orleans Saints game previews continue with Week 2, which brings a huge test against the Dallas Cowboys. Can the Saints upset a Super Bowl contender?

Our New Orleans Saints game previews continue with Week 2 of the 2024 regular season, which brings a huge test against the Dallas Cowboys. Can the Saints upset a Super Bowl contender? Or are the Cowboys really just pretenders? Mike McCarthy’s team has yet to get over the hump in January, but Dennis Allen’s squad hasn’t even gotten that far.

Either way, they’re a challenging opponent. Dallas has a better record at home (.778) than anyone else in the NFL since 2021, including the playoffs. They’ve made the playoffs in each of the last three years. It would mean a lot for the Saints to stroll into Jerry Jones’ palace and leave with a win.

And it’s been a while since the Saints won in Dallas. The Cowboys haven’t lost to the black and gold in front of their home crowd since 2012, when the Saints won by a field goal in overtime. They’ve traded wins and losses since then but Dallas still leads the all-time series by a margin of 18-13. The Cowboys were also victorious in their last meeting; they beat the Saints 27-17 in New Orleans back in 2021. Taysom Hill started that game at quarterback but completed just 19 of his 41 pass attempts while being intercepted four times. It was a rough watch.

Since then the Cowboys have been quiet in free agency, though they have added playmakers like wide receiver Brandin Cooks (the former Saints wideout) in trades. They lost a lot on the open market this spring including left tackle Tyron Smith, center Tyler Biadasz, and running back Tony Pollard plus defensive ends Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Dante Fowler Jr. Their biggest addition might be a reunion with running back Ezekiel Elliott after his awkward year with the New England Patriots.

In the draft, Dallas started out by trading down with the Detroit Lions to draft Oklahoma right tackle Tyler Guyton, who is converting to the left side (just like his Saints counterpart Taliese Fuaga). The Cowboys also drafted Western  Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland and used a pick they got back from the Lions on Kansas State guard Cooper Beebe, who is competing to start at center. So it’ll be a young Cowboys offensive line working to protect Dak Prescott.

Is that a matchup the Saints defensive line can take advantage of? Maybe. This could be a real statement win if New Orleans is up to the task. Be sure to circle the date on your calendar:

  • Game information: New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys
  • Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
  • Date: Sept. 15
  • Time: Noon CT / 1p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: FOX

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Cowboys finally have OL depth, just as starting lineup becomes shaky

The Cowboys offensive line is strong in depth but unproven and suspect in the starting ranks, says @ReidDHanson.

For the first time in a long time the Cowboys have depth throughout the offensive line ranks. T.J. Bass at guard, Brock Hoffman at center and offensive tackles Matt Waletzko and Asim Richards give Dallas solid depth options at every position across the line.

It’s a luxury the Cowboys haven’t enjoyed in recent seasons. Over the past few years, the Cowboys have been struggling to put a starting unit together. In 2024 they have the starters and backups seemingly in place.

Obviously positions still need to be earned before names on the depth chart are written in ink, but the intensions are clear: Tyler Guyton was drafted in the first round and fully expected to open the season at the starting left tackle. Cooper Beebe was drafted in the third round and considered by many to be the front-runner at OC. Tyler Smith, Zack Martin and Terence Steele are virtual locks at their respective starting spots as well. The stage is set.

But for as good as the depth appears and for as clear as the Cowboys’ intensions are, the starting ranks are fairly suspect this season. That’s because the expected starters are largely unproven and or coming off down seasons.

The rookie Guyton is moving from the right to the left. He has plenty of time to make the transition, but the move can’t be completely disregarded. There’s also the fact he enters the NFL as a bit of a raw prospect. Guyton is more potential than plug-and-play so growing pains are expected. He’s not as polished as his draft status indicates so he comes with a considerable amount of risk.

Similarly, the rookie Beebe is switching positions as well. Moving from OG to OC is no small transition and while Beebe’s work ethic and intelligence indicate he’s up to the task, he’s still unproven.

Steele is coming off an extremely down season. He never regained form after his 2022 knee injury and is essentially playing for his job in 2024. He rated as one of the league’s worst pass protectors in 2023 and his run blocking was doing little to compensate for it. He’s a safe bet to start but there’s no telling how well he’ll play.

Even Zack Martin is coming off his own down season. He still ranked as a top-10 OG in 2023, but it was a noticeable drop from his previous standard. Maybe it was all due to nagging injuries. Maybe it was a sign of things to come for a player turning 34 this season who held out for financial guarantees last offseason.

The depth on the roster indicates the Cowboys are well positioned to cover any injury to the starting ranks. An injury wouldn’t be ideal but it’s not the kiss of death it has been in the past. Unfortunately, the starters aren’t quite the same standard of stability either. 2024 is a transition year for the Cowboys offensive line and a case can be made Dallas is taking a step back to develop in 2024 so they can take a step forward in the long run.

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