The Cowboys don’t need a tackle problem to become a real problem.
Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele give Brian Schottenheimer’s offense two solid starters, but the drop-off behind them is the part that should have Dallas paying attention as roster cutdowns approach. Nate Thomas and Drew Shelton haven’t exactly calmed nerves, either.
Thomas was at least in the conversation for the left tackle job at one point, but his preseason has gone sideways. Shelton, meanwhile, hasn’t looked good on either edge, which has already people asking why Dallas spent a fourth-round pick on him in April.
So if the Cowboys are serious about protecting themselves before Sunday’s cutdown deadline, they need to be watching the market closely. There are a few tackles out there who could make sense if Dallas wants a better emergency plan than what it has now.
Broderick Jones is the name with the biggest ceiling. The Steelers have added two first-round offensive tackles in the last two drafts, which makes Jones feel more available than you’d expect for a former first-rounder still just 25 years old.
He’s played both tackle spots and has the kind of upside Dallas doesn’t currently have sitting behind Guyton and Steele. A trade might be required to get him, but if the Cowboys get desperate, a late-round swap or a fringe roster piece could be enough to get Pittsburgh’s attention.
Albert Reese IV is the kind of under-the-radar target that can pop up on the wire if Carolina can’t keep everyone healthy. He was a UDFA, so making the Panthers’ 53-man roster is hardly a lock.
This preseason, he’s been working at right tackle, though he did play some left tackle in college. The production has been loud: a 91.5 PFF grade last week, including a 93.3 mark in the run game and an 82.0 pass protection score.
He’s getting better every week, and that’s the kind of trajectory Dallas should care about.
Dametrious Crownover is another possible bargain. New England already has veteran tackles, and it also used a first-round pick on Caleb Lomu as the future at the position.
Then it added Crownover in Round 6, which gives this whole situation a familiar feel. A Texas A&M product who was born and raised in the lone star state, Crownover was a solid prospect with real size and upside.
He’s already a good pass blocker and is developing into a stronger run-game presence. If he gets waived, he could be a cheap option for Dallas.
Tristan Leigh looks more like a project than an immediate answer, but he’s still worth keeping on the radar. The Vikings rookie UDFA is buried on the depth chart and hasn’t shown his best stuff this preseason, so he should be available on waivers.
Leigh was once a five-star prospect, and teams liked his kick-step and lateral movement during the pre-draft process. The concern is strength - he can get knocked around - which is why he’s not a plug-and-play solution.
Still, if Dallas believes in Thomas or Shelton, Leigh could be the developmental swing they prefer.
Then there’s Vederian Lowe, the most ready-made option of the group. He has 25 starts over the last three seasons, played all 17 games and all four playoff games for the AFC Champion Patriots last season, and now finds himself in a less certain spot with the 49ers.
Lowe has played both tackle positions in the NFL, which immediately boosts his value. He could slide in as the swing tackle behind Guyton and Steele right away.
He’s stronger in pass protection than in the run game, but he also brings special teams value, which only helps his case.
In Other News...
Cowboys Already Tipped Their Hand On Most Of The 53-Man Roster
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For the rest of the roster, the final exhibition was less about the scoreboard and more about the uncertainty still hanging around the edges. Dallas now has to turn those last evaluations into a 53-man roster, and while the broad outline may already be visible, the final few decisions are still the ones that matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Roster Watch Has Turned Shiyazh Pete Into A Story To Follow
Shiyazh Pete has become one of the more interesting names in Cowboys roster watch this summer, even if the path ahead still looks steep. The undrafted offensive tackle has shown enough promise in preseason to stay in the conversation, and his background already makes him a notable figure: a former starter at New Mexico State and Kentucky, he also carries the possibility of becoming the first member of the Navajo Nation to play in an NFL game.
For now, the most realistic landing spot appears to be the practice squad, where Dallas could keep developing him without asking him to beat out more established options before the 2026 season begins. Even so, Pete is the kind of player teams keep a close eye on at the end of a roster cycle, because one injury or one underwhelming camp from someone else at his position can quickly change the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Suddenly Have A Linebacker Problem Right Before Cutdowns
Marist Liufaus preseason had been trending in the right direction until the Cowboys finale against the Saints, when the outside linebacker suffered a broken left forearm and was ruled out for the rest of the game. A third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Liufau had worked himself into an important role in Dallas defensive rotation while also contributing on special teams, making him more than just another body on the edge.
The timing makes it especially difficult for the Cowboys as they head into roster cutdowns and start sorting out the depth chart for the regular season. For the defensive staff, losing a young linebacker who had become part of the weekly plan means another adjustment at a spot where reliability matters, and it leaves Dallas weighing how to replace both his defensive snaps and his special teams value. [Read more 🡒]