A lot depends on Tyler Guyton taking a big step in his second season.
Last year in the NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys took Tyler Guyton in the first round as the heir apparent to Tyron Smith, who held down the left tackle spot for the organization for over a decade. While he was at Oklahoma, Guyton played in 20 games and logged 14 starts. 13 of them were at right tackle though, meaning he was going to have to adjust to being on the left side full-time.
Guyton came into the league with a ton of potential, but he was also raw and needed to fine-tune some things like getting stronger and not playing so upright. Those shortcomings would show throughout the season, and Guyton had his expected rookie struggles, which included the second-most accepted penalties in the NFL at 14.
Cowboys’ head coach Brian Schottenheimer spoke to the media on Thursday. When he mentioned Guyton and his progress during the offseason, Schottenheimer raved about the second-year tackle.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Tyler Guyton. He’s having a terrific offseason. He’s working his ass off, he looks great.
The Cowboys will need Guyton to be refined and ready to go for the 2025 campaign for a few reasons. First, he simply needs to be better seeing as Dallas spent a first-round pick on him. That comes with a ton of expectations no matter what the position is. As a left tackle, Guyton is responsible for the blind side of quarterback Dak Prescott, which makes this season even more important. Prescott is coming off a torn hamstring and a history of injuries over the last few seasons. If he isn’t kept upright, then the Cowboys aren’t going to be successful offensively. It’s just that simple.
One of the biggest reasons for optimism around the Cowboys isn’t just the players they acquired in the draft, and trading for wide receiver George Pickens, but the revamping of the coaching staff. According to Schottenheimer, it’s certainly helped Guyton as he enters a critical second season.
He’s having a great offseason. I think some of the new things that Klayton Adams and Conor Riley have brought really fits him…He has not missed a day, he was one of the first guys back in the building. He understands how important this year is for him.
The Cowboys have a shot to be extremely good on the interior of their offensive line this season with All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith, center Cooper Beebe going into his second year and new rookie Tyler Booker. Getting Guyton to take that next step can help them elevate to one of the better units league-wide.
