Cowboys’ Tyler Smith locked in at left guard spot as former first-rounder can finally focus on single position

FRISCO, Texas — The 2024 season will mark the first time in his three years with the Cowboys that Tyler Smith will have clarity about which position he will be playing long term. 

Smith, the 24th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Tulsa, played left tackle in college, but with left tackle Tyron Smith — Dallas’ 2010s All-Decade Team member — on the line with him in 2022 and 2023, the less-experienced Smith kicked inside to left guard. His efforts in 2023 were rewarded with his first Pro Bowl selection after registering with a 74.5 offensive grade, Pro Football Focus’ ninth-highest mark among guards who played a minimum 600 snaps. Smith dominated as a run-blocker, earning a 79.7 PFF run-blocking grade, the sixth best among NFL guards to accumulate 600 or more snaps. 

Following Tyron Smith’s free agency departure to the New York Jets this offseason, Dallas decided to use its 2024 first-round pick (29th overall after a trade back with the Detroit Lions) on Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton, a player the Cowboys intend to be their long-term solution at left tackle. Tyler Smith is now officially a full-time left guard and no longer has to also train as a tackle like he did his first two seasons in the event the elder Smith had an injury issue and couldn’t play a certain week. 

“Clearly his position just being the one position (left guard) focus instead of being between two — playing guard and tackle where you have to be in tune with what you have to do at each position. … Obviously things happen a little faster out there at tackle on the edge . … Clarity on that definitely helps,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said at minicamp on June 4 when asked how Smith being able to focus on left guard will help him. 

“We acknowledge our division opponents. He’s going against some of the biggest and best defensive tackles in football at least six games this year. All of…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/cowboys-tyler-smith-locked-in-at-left-guard-spot-as-former-first-rounder-can-finally-focus-on-single-position/

Author : Garrett Podell

Publish date : 2024-06-25 12:05:02

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