For just the fourth time in team history, and first time since 1981, the Dallas Cowboys selected an offensive lineman in the first round of the draft when they chose Tyron Smith with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He also became the second-highest offensive lineman drafted in Cowboys history behind John Niland, who was selected fifth in the 1966 Draft. Smith stepped in and immediately took over the starting right tackle spot as a rookie, starting all 16 games he played to become the first rookie to start all 16 games along the offensive line since Rob Petitti in 2005 and the third overall to do so. In his second season, Smith manned the blind side, moving to left tackle. In 2013 Smith returned as the club's starting left tackle, and he earned his first career trip to the Pro Bowl as a starter. He signed an eight-year extension during 2014 training camp and was a key part of a line that paved the way for the NFL's rushing leader (DeMarco Murray - 1,845 yards) and the second-ranked rushing attack (2,354), to earn his second straight trip to the Pro Bowl. He earned his third straight trip to the all-star game following the 2015 season after helping Darren McFadden to his second career 1,000-yard rushing season (1,089) and the first time in team history the Cowboys had two different running backs top 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. In 2016 Smith was part of an offensive line that led the way for the league's leading rusher (Ezekiel Elliott, 1,631 yards) and the NFL's second-ranked rushing attack (149.8 yards-per-game). En route to his fourth straight Pro Bowl selection, Smith & Co. also helped rookie quarterback Dak Prescott establish league rookie records in quarterback rating (104.9) and completion percentage (67.8). In 2017 Smith was limited to 13 games, suffering from groin and knee injuries through the season, but performed at a level to earn his fifth straight Pro Bowl appearance, helping block for an offense that topped 2,000 rushing yards in consecutive seasons. Smith earned his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance following the 2018 season, starting all 13 games he played on a line that helped lead the way for the league's rushing leader - Elliott, 1,434 yards - along with an NFC East Division crown. Smith had another strong performance, earning his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl appearance in 2019 to become the all-time club leader among tackles for Pro Bowl selections. Behind the line's work, Dallas led the league in total yards (6,904), tied for second in third down conversion rate (47.1), placed second in net passing yards (4,751), third in first downs (379) and was fifth in rushing yards (2,153) while allowing 23.0 sacks - the second-fewest in the NFL. The 2020 season was a disappointment for the perennial Pro Bowler as he was limited to just two games as a neck injury sidelined him for 14. After undergoing surgery and spending the season rehabbing, Smith started all 11 games he played in 2021 and returned to form in those contests, earning his eighth Pro Bowl trip to tie Emmitt Smith for the sixth-most in team history. His eight are second to Larry Allen's 10 for Cowboys offensive linemen. He missed 13 games in 2022 after suffering a hamstring injury in training camp but returned at the end of the year to start four games on the right side and both playoff contests, moving back to right tackle for the first time since his rookie season after the emergence of rookie Tyler Smith at left tackle.