Cowboys in-house options for filling OL holes don't inspire confidence

Heading into the 2024 season, the Dallas Cowboys have some holes to patch up on their roster, including two places on their offensive line. The team has accomplished players among the unit, but also lack in-house options that inspire much confidence at left tackle and center.

In the history of the Cowboys, they have a reputation for employing great offensive lines. In the 1970’s it began with future Hall of Fame tackle Rayfield Wright, who was a six-time All-Pro and won two Super Bowls.

Success for the Cowboys came again when they built the famed ‘Great Wall of Dallas’ in the 1990’s, when the team dominated in the trenches on their way to three Super Bowls. Among the best players from that group included Erik Williams, Mark Tuinei, Nate Newton, Mark Stepnoski, and Larry Allen.

Things dropped off for the Cowboys as the new century began, but when they started to invest in the offensive line again, the results got better. The selection of Tyron Smith 2011 kicked off a resurgence in rebuilding the line, which continued with Travis Frederick and Zack Martin in the years that followed.

Tyler Smith became the latest first-round pick to pay off, becoming a second-team All-Pro in his sophomore season. Yet there is still more work to do to help build up the unit for the upcoming year.