FRISCO, Texas — Yes, the Dallas Cowboys are and should remain hellbent on rebuilding a defensive unit that was the worst in franchise history last season. That doesn't mean nothing on the offensive side of the ball needs to be addressed, however, and that's where the state of affairs on the offensive line come in.
Tyler Guyton appears to be at the center of the concerns, but not due to lack of ability, more so because of lack of availability. The former first-round pick is entering his third year in the NFL and with the Cowboys and his first two were gnawed at by the injury bug.
Last season alone, the talented ex-Sooner suffered a knee fracture/sprain during training camp, a concussion in October, and a high ankle sprain in November that ultimately ended his season.
"Tyler Guyton — it's a big year for Tyler," head coach Brian Schottenheimer, speaking from this year's league meetings. "Tyler's been one of the few guys back in the building early on. It's crazy. All these guys have spots that they train and we're fortunate because most of these guys want to live and stay in Dallas, so most of them train in facilities that are around the area, so they come in and do stuff.
"Tyler Guyton's got a chance to be an elite player, but he's got to take that next step and we have to help him take that next step."
And, from Schottenheimer's purview, what might that next step be?
Well, literally, Guyton's next step.
"It starts with his footwork," he said. "Getting more comfortable, and getting more balanced at the point of attack. And then again, there's his hand usage. He's really a young, raw, left tackle.
He's a former defensive lineman [in high school], then right tackle in college, and now a left tackle that's missed a bunch of time. The biggest thing for him will be having a great, healthy offseason."
The absence of Guyton, and eventually, Nate Thomas (also injury-related) last season forced the Cowboys to rescind their mandate of keeping All-Pro lineman Tyler Smith at left guard, moving him to left tackle to finish the season.
A conversation was then had at the conclusion of the season that ended with Dallas advising Smith he'd be returned to his base position, where he'd prefer to stay, but that they're also leaving the door open to put "the best five on the field" in 2026.
Ahead of voluntary OTAs and minicamp, that remains the plan.
"Absolutely, yeah." said Schottenheimer. "I should have mentioned Nate [Thomas] as well. Nate's another guy with a ton of upside, and a ton of talent. … I might have talked about this, but these are the three areas each player needs to get better at and these are the steps that will allow him to go do that, and Terrance Steele, for example: hand eye coordination, timing up his punch, hitting the right pad in his sets.
" … We have ways of teaching that — whether there's light boards and stuff now that you see some of the F1 guys doing, but each player will get that. And that's because part of taking the next step is us improving the current players on our roster."
The interior of the offensive line seems mostly set, given the impressive rookie season from first-round pick Tyler Booker and the return of Cooper Beebe from injury.
But the only way the interior stays intact, inclusive of Tyler Smith staying put, will depend upon Tyler Guyton and, as a safety net, Nate Thomas, meaning the question of which five will start in Rio de Janeiro won't be answered until late summer, at the earliest.
