Dallas Cowboys on Tyler Smith: “He will work both LG and LT”

A common belief following the 2021 NFL Draft was that the Dallas Cowboys top draft pick, Tyler Smith, would be transitioned to left guard and kept there for the foreseeable future. Seeing that it’s the LG position that’s currently up for grabs, this was a fair assessment to make. You want your first round pick on the field, after all.

But the Cowboys have been up front about Tyler Smith and his his future on the Cowboys from the jump. The former Tulsa left tackle will be given time at both LG and LT this year. While logic tells us LG is where he’s most likely to land, that’s not a destination written in stone nor is it expected to be his final resting spot.

Tyler Smith can offer the Dallas Cowboys the most at LT, that’s why he will continue to get reps at tackle.

In rookie mini camps Tyler stayed inside at guard leading some to believe this is just how it’s going to be. But Mike McCarthy was quick to correct the assumption,

"“I wouldn’t get too caught up on where exactly Tyler is playing,” McCarthy said. “because we’re trying to have as constructive as a practice as we can as far as how many linemen, so that’s part of the equation and formula. But like I said when he was drafted, he will work both left guard and left tackle.”"

On a scale of positional importance, left tackle is the most valuable position on the offensive line. It’s also one of the hardest to fill in the NFL. If you think you have a player on your roster capable of playing LT, you see that thing through.

Guard isn’t nearly as hard of a position to fill. The NFL is littered with plus-level starters at guard who were found in the later portions of the draft. OT is pretty much first round or bust.

Before the draft I discussed this exact approach in my Sport DFW draft coverage. I pointed out the Tyron Smith blueprint and how Dallas used him in one role early (for team need and his personal development) and then moved him to his primary role later. I said if the Dallas Cowboys want to fill needs and maximize positional value they will probably draft an OT and use him temporarily inside.

On paper it looks like Tyler Smith is a shoe-in for the LG spot. The position is vacant and an All-Pro is at LT. But as we all know, that All-Pro is prone to injury, and if an injury occurs the Dallas Cowboys want to know if Tyler Smith is the next best option.

That’s why he’s going to be getting reps at LT throughout camp. He’s not going to bump Tyron from his job (not this year, at least), but he’s hoped to be the top alternate when the inevitable happens.

Currently the Dallas Cowboys have project players Matt Waletzko and Josh Ball at swing tackle. It’s a risky proposition with major upside. If Tyler Smith can prove to be a viable back-up option behind Tyron, he would let the Cowboys breathe easy keeping the two “projects” on the roster.

It’s important that Tyler Smith gets reps at OT. It’s his past, present and future, even if he does play most snaps at LG this year.