6 Cowboys Starters Who Will Be Replaced in the NFL Draft

2. Tyron Smith, LT

For more than two decades with Jerry Jones as the owner, the Dallas Cowboys refused to use a first-round draft pick on an offensive lineman. That finally changed in 2011 when they took USC‘s Tyron Smith at No. 9 overall. Smith spent his rookie season as a right tackle while Doug Free played on the left side. Then in 2010, the two flip sides and Smith has been a fixture as the blindside protector ever since then.

An eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection, Smith is one of the best in the entire NFL. The only thing that has ever slowed him down, is his injury concerns. Smith hasn’t played a full season since 2015 and missed a significant amount of time in both 2020 and 2022.

This past season, he played 13 games which is more than most expected. However, the Cowboys are likely to move on in the offseason. Smith is a free agent and has said that he doesn’t plan on retiring, and would like to come back to Dallas. The franchise seems ready to make something happen as well.

The problem is that as long as Dallas keeps him, they’re not going to try and find a permanent replacement at left tackle. Looking ahead to the 2024 NFL draft, they could use their first-round pick on somebody such as Jordan Morgan from Arizona to try and fill in at left tackle.

Or they could look for a left guard later on, and move Tyler Smith to left tackle, which was his natural position. Either way, they need to try to move on from Tyron Smith, because he’s unfortunately not somebody they can depend on long-term. Even if he's re-signed, it needs to be one-year max with a replacement ready and waiting. Otherwise, they will find themselves in trouble at some point during the season as they scramble to replace him.