FRISCO, Texas — Tyler Smith is staying put in his current position for the 2026 season. That is at least the plan at the moment, after the First-team All-Pro left guard sat down with Dallas Cowboys' head coach Brian Schottenheimer and the team's front office to discuss which position he'll play in the future after having spent the final few games starting at left tackle.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Smith and the Cowboys were set to have the discussion during exit interviews on Monday and, on Wednesday, Schottenheimer revealed his plan for his three-time Pro Bowler going forward.
"I said, right now you're a guard," he told Smith.
That said, Schottenheimer also left the door wide open for the Cowboys to have a change of heart, the goal being to put the "best five" offensive linemen on the field in front of All-Pro quarterback Dak Prescott.
"I was explaining to him, I said, 'Hey, I think we feel that you're an incredible All-Decade type of guard but, at the end of the day, you're such a good player that we have to [field] our five best guys. In no way, shape, or form do I think that we can't. … We're gonna do what's best for the Dallas Cowboys winning the Super Bowl, and that, just like we did last for [final games of 2025], if we got a move you back, we will.
"What I love about that is how Tyler and I were able to have that conversation. He was like, 'It makes perfect sense. I understand.'"
It's not exactly groundbreaking to see the Cowboys entertain moving an all-world guard out to tackle when the team is in a pinch, and Smith has now been asked to do it in two of his four NFL seasons, first as a rookie and then as a fourth-year player.
Before him, it was Zack Martin (nine-time All-Pro, nine-time Pro Bowler), Nate Newton (three-time Super Bowl champion, two-time First-team All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowl guard) and even Larry Allen (seven-time All-Pro, 11-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl champion) being asked to do the same in yesteryear.
And like the great Cowboys' guards before him, Smith remains open to the idea but, also like them, it's not exactly his favorite.
"I have the most reps I have in the NFL at offensive guard, so obviously I'm more comfortable there," he said ahead of his exit interview. "It's a matter of conversation. I feel like I just need to know. This year was kind of [due to] injuries — guys were up and down, and so, of course, I made that move for the team, but we're going to kind of find out what the grand scheme of things is going to be.
"And it might be a conversation that carries on for longer than just today, but at least today will give us clarity. … That's the biggest thing for me — is what's best for the team, but also what's smart for me in my career."
Also speaking to the outcome of Monday's conversation was executive vice president and director of player personnel Stephen Jones, who applauds Smith for at least keeping an open mind, the best guard in the league having, in 2025, been awarded a top contract extension at that position.
"By the way, that's why he's a core piece, going forward, and why we wanted to sign him," said Jones. "I mean, versatility is huge. And you can have a player that can be the best guard in the league and also swing out there and play to a Pro Bowl-caliber level and attack, we had that in Larry Allen. … That's what we think of Tyler, and as Schotty said: he's the ultimate team guy."
What ultimately dictates how this all plays out for Smith is the health of Tyler Guyton.
The former first-round pick is entering his third year in the league and, when available, he shows great promise but, therein lies the rub, because he's had a difficult time remaining available. Guyton missed much of his rookie training camp with injury before going on to miss games in 2024, changing his offseason regimen to be more durable and, initially, it paid off but, ultimately, he ended the season on injured reserve with a total of seven games missed in 2026.
That, combined with the injury to Nate Thomas, forced the Cowboys' hand on Smith, not due to poor play by either Thomas or Guyton. It stands to reason, given that fact, that Smith has a great chance at remaining at left guard, where he prefers to live, barring injury to Guyton and Thomas.
And anyone wondering if the Cowboys are looking to move on from Terence Steele at right tackle to move Guyton there and Smith permanently to left tackle got their answer on Wednesday in a walk-off comment from owner and general manager Jerry Jones following the end-of-season press conference.
"No," said Jones. "I want [Steele] to be a part of our future."
In that future, Tyler Smith is a potential Hall of Fame left guard, and not simply a Pro Bowl left tackle — assuming all goes according to plan in Dallas.
