Will any Cowboys player be under the microscope more than Tyler Guyton in this year’s training camp? The former first-round pick is entering Year 3 with lingering questions about his long-term viability, and even talk of his starting job being up for grabs.
Years in NFL: 2
Acquired by: 2024 1st-round pick
Guyton was drafted about a month after longtime bookend Tyron Smith left the Cowboys in free agency. Like Smith in 2011, Guyton came out of college with plenty of raw athletic potential but the need for technical development. He wasn’t necessarily going to start as a rookie, but veteran Chuma Edoga got hurt in the early preseason and thrust Guyton into duty. His own injuries cost him two games and limited much-needed practice work in other weeks, and it showed with on-field struggles. Guyton was benched from Weeks 14-17 when Edoga returned from injury.
Coming off a better camp last year, Guyton was the full-time starter. He showed improvement overall, but still had too many breakdowns in pass protection and penalties. Injuries became an even greater issue, costing Guyton seven games. Now his durability is as much a concern as his long-term development, creating plenty of angst around him ahead of this critical third season.
Years Left: 2
2026 Cap Hit: $3.59 million
Probably about a week or so after next year’s draft, Dallas will have to decide if it’s going to exercise the fifth-year option on Guyton’s contract. Given how much he’s already played, and assuming full-time starts in 2026, that one-year salary will likely be around $20 million. That’d be a huge jump from his rookie compensation, so how this season goes is paramount to the Cowboys’ decision.
Role: Starting LT
Roster Chance: 100%
During OTAs, Brian Schottenheimer said that Guyton and fellow third-year prospect Nathan Thomas are competing to be the starting left tackle. Based on how the practice reps went, and other chatter from around the team, it’s clear that it’s still Guyton’s job to lose. But that Schottenheimer was willing to put that out there, with a specific alternative name in mind, indicates that Guyton’s hold on that job isn’t nearly as firm as most other starters’.
Dallas put additional heat on Guyton with fourth-round rookie Drew Shelton, who is another exceptional athlete that needs time to develop. Shelton won’t be contending with Guyton and Thomas this year, but could be interesting in 2027. And depending on what the Cowboys do with Guyton’s fifth-year option, next season could be a contract year for him.
So far this offseason, all of the reports around Guyton are positive. He’s been praised by veteran leader Tyler Smith and offensive coordinator Klayton Adams for his approach and progress. We’ve seen clips of his training with offensive line guru Duke Manyweather. As long as he can stay healthy, Guyton seems poised to make that crucial third-year leap.
If he does, Thomas and Shelton, along with most critics, will be swatted away like flies. Guyton realizing his potential, with Tyler Smith already an All-Pro and Tyler Booker seemingly on his way, would be a massive step forward for the entire offensive line. It would allow the Cowboys to focus on helping Terence Steele when he needs it, and allow for even more explosiveness in the passing game with cleaner pockets.
Still, all that potential isn’t guaranteed production. The Cowboys have been open about their concerns with the competition talk and the Shelton pick. Guyton’s third season will decide if that chatter ends, or if Dallas becomes even more aggressive about its future at left tackle.
Check out our previous player profiles from this series:
