The Dallas Cowboys aim to boast one of the league’s top offensive line units in 2025 despite being ranked 23rd by PFF. It becomes even more challenging after nine-time Pro Bowl and seven-time First-Team All-Pro Zack Martin announced his retirement. The Cowboys must now count on their elite lineman to take over and lead the unit to greatness.
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Dallas Cowboys’ versatile offensive lineman has had a great start to NFL career
Tyler Smith has developed into a reliable, versatile, and one of the league’s top interior offensive linemen over his first three seasons. He has started 47 regular-season games, primarily at left guard but also at left tackle, earning a Second-Team All-Pro selection and back-to-back Pro Bowl honors. Smith had a great third season, allowing 22 pressures, four quarterback hits, and two sacks, posting a 76.0 pass-blocking grade, a 73.8 run-blocking grade, and a 75.0 PFF grade in 16 starts.
The Cowboys exercised his fully guaranteed $21.271 million 5th-year option in May for the 2026 season.
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Dallas Cowboys’ standout named Top 3 at position
In an ESPN article, Jeremy Fowler lists the top 10 interior offensive linemen in the NFL, according to executives, coaches, and scouts. Tyler Smith is the highest-rated guard and the second-best interior offensive lineman. Voters highlight Smith’s physicality, versatility, and ability to play left tackle at a high level, as well as his improvement in dropping penalties in 2024.
“‘Most physically gifted guard in the league who could legitimately be a top starter at LT if they wanted to play him there,’ an NFL general manager said. ‘Strong, athletic, nasty, and cut his holding penalties in half last year,'” Fowler said.
“One knock is overaggressive (which gets him out of control at times), but his penalties dropped from 10 to two year-over-year, according to Pro Football Reference. Either way, teams can live with Smith’s aggressiveness because ‘if he gets his hands on you, it’s over,’ an NFL coordinator said. Most personnel-based voters rely heavily on traits and what a player can be. Smith fits that bill.”
