Cowboys LT Tyler Guyton is saying and doing all the right things heading into year two

It is early, but the arrow is pointing up for Tyler Guyton.

It was a disappointing rookie season for Cowboys 2024 first-round pick Tyler Guyton. After having a solid camp and preseason, Guyton bounced in and out of starting lineup for the Cowboys in 2024. Guyton struggled at times on the field, showing consistent issues in technique and strength, and with penalties. The questions were loud heading into the offseason, and after the Cowboys elected not to add a veteran swing tackle in free agency, some thought they could consider a tackle early in the 2025 NFL draft.

Now in the middle of OTA’s, the Cowboys are trusting Guyton to make a big jump in year two to solidly the left side of the line for 2025. While we are still a few months away from training camp, early signs have the arrow pointing up for Tyler Guyton this offseason.

Speaking with the media early in the week, Guyton touched on some of his struggles in year one and what his mindset is heading into year two.

“I want to be the guy that can be depended on. … I just feel like I had a lot to prove and I needed to work on things…I’m not going to make any excuses. I just didn’t play as good as I needed to last year.”

Obviously these are just words, and the real answers will come when the pads come on, but so far the early signs show a guy that has matured and has accepted he has work to do in order to succeed at the NFL level. Another big reason for hope around improvement is the incoming coaching duo of Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator and Conor Riley as offensive line coach.

Both coaches are highly-regarded for their work with offensive linemen and head coach Brian Schottenheimer likes what he sees so far.

“I think some of the new things that come from Klayton and Conor Riley really fit him,” Schottenheimer explained. “He hasn’t played offensive line a whole lot. Then he played right tackle for Oklahoma. Then he played left tackle [for the Cowboys], and it’s obviously a premier position, and he missed quite a lot of time in training camp.

“He has not missed a day [this offseason program]. He was one of the first guys back in the building. It reminds me a ton of Jalen Tolbert in Year 1. He was up and down as a high draft pick and didn’t have a great first year. J.T. was one of the first guys back in the building, and Tyler Guyton was one of the first guys back in the building. He understands just how important this year is for him, and not just for him, but for this football team.”

One other element he’s looking to improve is his diet.

He met with the team’s nutrition staff and studied videos on his own. He eliminated fried food from his diet, which meant the self-described “Caniac” could no longer go to Raising Cane’s. He now eats more salmon and steak.

He is still listed at 322 pounds, but he feels better.

“I feel like I have a lot more energy. I feel like my joints feel a lot better,” he said. “Eating the right things, putting good fuel into my diet has definitely helped me become a better player.”

Expectations should be higher for a first-round pick, and the signs are positive heading into his sophomore campaign.