Left tackle named as Cowboys’ “most important” training camp battle in 2024
There is a lot expected from Tyler Guyton during his rookie season.
Remaking the offensive line was one of the Dallas Cowboys’ top priorities entering the 2024 offseason. Dallas let two long-time starters, future Hall-of-Famer/left tackle Tyron Smith, and center Tyler Biadasz, walk in free agency. That left the team with two big-time holes on the line.
Instead of trying to find replacements for them in free agency, Dallas shifted their focus to the draft. The Cowboys went out and added two starting-caliber linemen in the first three rounds, selecting Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe.
While both Guyton and Beebe possess some serious upside, starting as a rookie on the offensive line in the NFL is no easy task. Dallas does have an excellent recent history in this department, but it still makes it a very tall task to ask of the players.
It’s safe to say there will be plenty of moving pieces on Dallas’ offensive line this preseason, creating some entertaining training camp position battles.
In an article this week, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report echoed this sentiment, naming left tackle as the Cowboys’ “Most Important Training Camp Battle.” Here’s what Ballentine had to say about why the starting position could be up for grabs.
There’s no question about who the Dallas Cowboys want the starting left tackle to be for the foreseeable future. They drafted Tyler Guyton in the first round and switched him to the blind side after he served as the right tackle for the Oklahoma Sooners last season. It’s a good long-term plan. Guyton was the 32nd overall player on our board and the fifth-ranked tackle in a loaded class. However, B/R’s Brandon Thorn noted in his scouting report that Guyton would need to come along slowly. “He can eventually bloom into a high-end starter in the NFL, but he will need to be brought along slowly in a conservative scheme and veteran O-line room before bridging that gap.”
The Cowboys have the Cleveland Browns on the docket for Week 1. Putting Guyton out there against Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith might not be the best idea at a position where confidence is critical. Dallas does have options if Guyton isn’t ready early in the season. Tyler Smith has proved capable of being on the outside. He has All-Pro potential at guard, but he could temporarily be at tackle until Guyton is ready. Alternatively, Chuma Edoga started six games there for Tyron Smith. He gave up three sacks and had 10 blown blocks on 229 pass-blocking snaps, per Sports Info Solutions.
While the Cowboys could opt to move Tyler Smith outside to left tackle if they don’t believe Guyton is ready to start in Week 1, having Chuma Edoga start and leaving Smith at left guard would make much more sense.
Edoga certainly has his flaws, but he was not bad enough last year that it would be worth moving Smith out of a spot where he is an All-Pro and arguably the best at his position in the NFL.
If things go to plan the Cowboys will see enough development from Tyler Guyton in training camp and the preseason that they feel confident enough to start him from the jump. That being said, coaches love veteran players. If Mike McCarthy and the staff have any questions about the 22-year-old’s readiness, Chuma Edoga very well could be your starting left tackle against the Cleveland Browns.
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