When the Dallas Cowboys selected Tyler Guyton in the first round of the 2024 draft, they knew they were getting a raw prospect. The Oklahoma Sooners product had all the physical and athletic tools to be a true difference-maker on the offensive line, but there were various areas in which he had to refine his game. Considering that he was only a starter for two seasons in college, the Cowboys didn't mind having to develop him with the hopes of turning him into their long-term blindside protector.
So far, the results have been as expected. Despite getting the starting nod since his rookie season opener, Guyton's performances have been inconsistent and, at times, frustrating. He was called for 18 penalties as a rookie, significantly more than any other player on the team. Guyton's mistake-prone rookie season was tolerated by fans as the 2024 campaign quickly went off the rails, and by an organization that was committed to his development.
Tyler Guyton Will Be on Thin Ice Until Further Notice
The lack of improvement, however, has carried into this year. Guyton leads the team in penalties once again, and his overall offensive grade (43.1) on Pro Football Focus is worse than last year's. To make matters even more concerning, Guyton's pass block grade of 32.8 ranks among the worst of all qualified offensive tackles.
In their Week 4 tie against the Packers, Guyton suffered a concussion and couldn't finish the game. Nathan Thomas came in and made his offensive debut for the Cowboys after being a late-round pick in last season's draft. In the limited minutes Thomas played, he fared significantly better than Guyton, receiving a 57.2 pass block grade in 12 passing snaps. He did all of this while not allowing any pressure, hurry, or a hit on Dak Prescott, per PFF.
As of Wednesday, Guyton remains in the concussion protocol, per Cowboys insider Nicole Hutchinson. If he misses Sunday's game against the Jets, Thomas could be in line for his first career start. Should Thomas perform well against the Jets (not necessarily the most formidable pass rush in the NFL), he could take over as the starting left tackle going forward.
Even if Guyton were to return and start again, he would remain on thin ice. If he were to continue with his inconsistent and mistake-prone manner, it would only be a matter of time before he was eventually benched, either in favor of Thomas or another option.
The offensive line in Dallas is already in the midst of a shakeup with injuries to Tyler Booker and Cooper Beebe, so it wouldn't be a shock to see Brian Schottenheimer changing things up even more if things don't improve soon.