The Dallas Cowboys were able to retain all of their starters from a season ago on offense and should once again be one of the top units in the entire league. Some depth issues still need to be worked out, but as things stand right now the biggest concern on offense may be at left tackle.
We are now about a month before the Cowboys report for training camp, and it’s said there’s an open competition between Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas for the starting left tackle job. While Guyton is favored to win,
the outcome is no doubt important for this season.
According to a recent statement by QB Dak Prescott, the competition between Guyton and Thomas is just starting to heat up and making both players better versions of themselves.
“Those are two guys that both can play and both are huge to this team,” Prescott said. “Whether it’s battling out now to be the starter, those are both guys we’re going to need. Both guys are going to have to play at some point or another. They’re pushing. They’re doing a hell of a job. I love both of those guys and the way they approach the game, just watching Tyler get better, watching Nate get better. They’re going to push each other.”
Considering a concerning trend Dak Prescott is trying to break this year, the open competition at left tackle is an important one the Cowboys can’t afford to get wrong. Both Guyton and Thomas have shown flashes of being starting caliber tackles, but each have had consistency and availability issues.
Remaining healthy is key for both players this year if the Cowboys want to be the Super Bowl contender many are projecting them to be. Another season with the revolving door at left tackle could put any postseason hopes in doubt, making the Guyton/Thomas competition all the more important.
Right now, the hope is Guyton can finally settle in at left tackle and remain healthy for the entire season. If not him, Thomas. If either or both have health issues once again like last year, the Cowboys fortunately have other options they could potentially turn to.
The first option would be kicking Tyler Smith back outside to left tackle. It’s something they experimented with at the end of the year last season and could do so once again if the need arises. Everyone would prefer him remaining at left guard.
The next option would be throwing rookie Drew Shelton to the wolves, hoping you can hold his own week in and week out. It’s not ideal, and he’ll have his own growing pains, but it wouldn’t be the first time Dallas and to rely on a rookie stepping in to play a premier position.
With Guyton and Thompson getting the first shot to earn the left tackle job and with Smith and Shelton as fallback options, the hope is somebody emerges to lockdown the position. If the Cowboys are still concerned though, they may need to look outside the organization for help.
This may be the most important position battle heading into training camp for the Cowboys. Prescott sounds as if he has faith in Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas and hopefully he’s right. If not, this could be yet another disappointing year for the Cowboys.
How confident are you in the left tackle position?
