There are many philosophical changes the Dallas Cowboys will undergo under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. But one of the biggest is along the offensive line.
Dallas used its first-round pick in April’s draft on Alabama guard Tyler Booker and added him to a group that has fellow first-round selections Tyler Guyton and Tyler Smith. While the Cowboys feel great about their starting lineup, depth behind them is a question and should lead to one of the most interesting battles during training camp.
While there’s plenty of opportunity, there may not be room for an offseason addition, which could lead to a shocking release before the Cowboys report to Oxnard next month.
Cowboys OL Saahdiq Charles is on Chopping Block Entering Training Camp
New Cowboys offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles is attempting a comeback after a year out of football. But the effort to return to the league could come up short without a chance to prove himself during training camp.
Charles was a former adversary of the Cowboys as a fourth-round pick by the Washington Commanders in the 2020 draft. An offensive tackle on LSU’s national championship team in 2019, he kicked inside to guard and had a strong 67.6 overall grade and 79.2 run-blocking grade in 2021, according to Pro Football Focus.
While he was good in spurts, his injury history prevented him from cracking the starting lineup and eventually led him to sign with the Tennessee Titans last offseason. Although he was in line to start for the Titans, he abruptly decided to retire during training camp before sitting out last season and signing a one-year deal with the Cowboys in April.
Charles’s previous experience gives him a leg up on the competition, which includes fellow signings Rob Jones , T.J. Bass and Nate Thomas. The Cowboys also have bigger questions at tackle, but it’s unlikely the Cowboys would ask him to shift back to tackle in an effort to add depth there. In addition, we haven’t heard much of Charles during the offseason program, which could be a good thing or a sign of trouble.
In all likelihood, Charles may not be long for Dallas and could be a surprising cut before the Cowboys assemble for training camp.