We were told back in the early part of the year by coach Schottenheimer that there would be a ‘competition’ at left tackle between Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas.
Now the weight of that competition may have been questioned, as Tyler Guyton was a 1st-round pick in 2024 and clearly the guy the front office would want to win the job. As opposed to a 7th-round pick that same year, Nate Thomas, winning the job.
But as we arrived at camp, the talks came back around, and this time it included all-pro guard Tyler Smith as a potential left tackle. This brings more pressure onto Tyler Guyton, as Smith could make this battle a lot closer.
But I think this just pulls back to Brian Schottenheimer’s motto: Compete Every Day.
So now we know that Brian Schottenheimer plans on moving his offensive line around throughout camp in hopes of finding the “best five.”
But Compete Every Day stays the same.
When the Cowboys Arrived
Tyler Smith took the time to speak with the media and focused on the aspirations of the team. Smith said he believes a championship is a realistic goal, emphasizing that success comes from consistently putting in the work, attacking each day with the right mindset, and doing what’s expected.
When Smith was asked about where he would play, he left it ambiguous.
“You know, we’ll see what happens,” Smith said. “Ultimately, Schotty makes those decisions. Wherever I do line up, I’m gonna be at the best of my abilities.”
Smith’s comments about doing whatever is necessary to help the team naturally shifted the conversation back to the offensive line. That prompted reporters to ask Brian Schottenheimer about his plans for the All-Pro guard, reopening the discussion surrounding Dallas’ left tackle competition. Placing even more pressure on Tyler Guyton.
How Did Guyton Respond?
After practice, the media caught up with Tyler Guyton and got his side of the competition. “I mean, it’s the same as every day: coming to work and getting better, to try and get one percent better every day,” Guyton said.
It’s all about getting stronger going into year three and getting more confident in his abilities. He plans to get better and learn the playbook as it evolves with Brian Schottenheimer and offensive coordinator Klayton Adams. To reference an old Bill Parcells maxim, knowledge is confidence; confidence lets you play fast.
“I’m not all the way where I want to be yet, and that’s what camp is for,” he admitted. “I’m still trying to get better every single day, but it [definitely] feels like I’m going into my third year in the NFL. Things are slowing down for me, and I’m learning more every day.”
This will all be key in getting Tyler Guyton to become the starting left tackle for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 against the New York Giants. The real answer will be shown if Guyton can handle the pressure and step up, or should the Cowboys look to move on from the former first-round pick?
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