The Dallas Cowboys haven’t had much peace of mind at offensive tackle in recent years, and 2025 has been no exception. The days of Tyron Smith anchoring the left side are officially in the rearview, and while the team hoped the future would be more stable, the reality has been anything but.
Between Tyler Guyton’s growing pains and Terence Steele’s ongoing struggles, the tackle position continues to be a weekly storyline in Dallas. But amid the uncertainty, one unexpected name has started to generate some real buzz: Nate Thomas.
Thomas, a second-year lineman out of Louisiana, wasn’t exactly a household name when the Cowboys took a flyer on him in the seventh round of the 2024 draft. He redshirted his rookie season, spending the year developing behind the scenes.
But when training camp rolled around this past summer, Thomas showed up looking like a player ready to contribute - and not just in a depth role. At 6-foot-4 and 331 pounds, he brings the kind of size you want in a tackle, even if he doesn’t have the elite length that Guyton and Steele offer.
Still, what he lacks in prototype traits, he’s started to make up for with grit, versatility, and a surprising level of poise for a young player.
This season, Thomas has quietly become one of the Cowboys’ most reliable fill-ins up front. As injuries have hit, he’s stepped in when needed, logging 199 offensive snaps and making two starts on both the left and right side.
That kind of flexibility is gold for an NFL offensive line, especially one that’s been dealing with as much turnover and inconsistency as Dallas has. And while he’s still raw, there’s a growing sense that Thomas might be more than just a swing tackle - he could be on the path to earning a starting role down the line.
Of course, that path is blocked in part by Tyler Guyton, the 2024 first-rounder who’s entrenched at left tackle. Guyton has taken a noticeable step forward in Year 2, particularly in the run game, where he’s graded out as a plus-level blocker. His pass protection still leaves something to be desired - he ranks in the bottom 10 among 80 qualifying tackles - but his draft pedigree and upward trajectory keep his job relatively secure for now.
The same can’t be said for Terence Steele.
Steele entered the season with one of the highest cap hits on the roster - $18.15 million in both 2025 and 2026 - and the pressure that comes with that kind of price tag has been mounting. While he’s managed to stay on the field, his play hasn’t lived up to the contract.
He currently ranks 37th out of 80 offensive tackles in overall grade, which is solidly average. But when you’re being paid like a top-tier starter, average doesn’t cut it.
If there’s a starting job up for grabs in 2026, it’s likely at right tackle - and Thomas might be the one knocking on that door.
That said, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Thomas is still very much a developmental player.
His performance in pass protection has been rocky - even more so than Guyton’s or Steele’s. While he’s only surrendered one sack this season, that number doesn’t tell the whole story.
He’s benefited from extra help - chip blocks, double teams, and scheme protection - and still allowed 11 pressures, according to PFF. That’s a red flag, especially when you consider the limited sample size.
Thomas is playing like what he is: a late-round pick with minimal NFL experience, still learning the speed and complexity of the pro game.
The good news? The Cowboys have found ways to make it work.
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and quarterback Dak Prescott have done an excellent job masking the line’s shortcomings. Whether it’s through quicker reads, smart pocket movement, or creative play design, they’ve kept the offense moving despite the issues at tackle.
That kind of adaptability has been crucial, especially with Dallas still in the playoff hunt.
Bottom line: Nate Thomas has been a pleasant surprise and a valuable piece for the Cowboys in 2025. He’s not ready to take over a starting job just yet, but he’s trending in the right direction. And in a position group that’s been defined by uncertainty, that kind of progress is worth watching.