The Dallas Cowboys don’t lack firepower. With Dak Prescott steering the offense and CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens giving him two dynamic receivers to work with, the talent is already obvious.
The issue isn’t whether this group can score. It’s whether one key spot up front can stop being a problem and let the whole thing breathe.
That’s where Tyler Guyton comes in.
On Friday, Ben Solak of ESPN identified an X-factor for every NFL team heading into the season, and he picked the Cowboys’ left tackle as the player who could swing things for Dallas. Guyton didn’t just edge out Nate Thomas for the job in training camp, according to Solak - he took it so quickly that the Cowboys ended the competition only a few days into camp and later dealt Thomas to the Texans on cut-down day.
"The Cowboys entered training camp with a competition at left tackle between Guyton and Nate Thomas, a 2024 seventh-rounder who had impressed in Guyton's absence last season," he notes in the piece. "Guyton didn't just win that competition -- he won it so fast that the Cowboys stopped splitting reps only a few days into camp and eventually traded Thomas to the Texans on cut-down day."
The upside is clear, but so is the concern. Solak pointed out that Guyton ranks "third among tackles in penalties per game," and injuries have been part of the picture too. Still, when he’s out there, the talent shows up.
"A leap from Guyton would benefit the entire offensive line," he adds, also noting that if "Guyton can settle into consistent play against quality edges, the Cowboys can spend more resources helping Steele -- or even get five out into the concept, which is where top-flight processor Dak Prescott is at his best."
That’s the heart of it for Dallas. The offense already has the kind of top-end skill talent that can stress defenses.
What it needs is steadier play at tackle, and especially on Prescott’s blind side. If Guyton gives them that, he could turn a strong offense into something even more dangerous.
In Other News...
Cowboys Just Opened The Door For Another Move Before Week 1
The Cowboys spent the lead-up to Week 1 doing more than tightening up the depth chart. By restructuring the contracts of Kenny Clark, DaRon Bland and Jake Ferguson, Dallas opened up more than $19 million in salary cap room, giving the front office a little more breathing room as the season gets underway. It also came on a day when the team leaned into its leadership structure, naming Dak Prescott, Quinnen Williams, Clark and Brandon Aubrey as captains for the 2026 season.
There are still a few moving parts worth watching. Joe Milton is back on the practice squad, adding another quarterback option in the background, and the Cowboys have continued to talk up Tyler Guytons progress at left tackle after his camp development. With cap space now available, the question is whether Dallas is simply banking flexibility for later or quietly positioning itself for another move before the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Camp Drama Just Exposed A Bigger NFL Problem
The Cowboys briefly stirred up training camp this week when they moved to restrict reporters from video recording team drills, only to reverse course after the decision drew public criticism. It was a short-lived policy, but it tapped into a growing leaguewide debate over how much access teams should allow when cameras are pointed at the practice field and how much competitive value can be squeezed from a few clips of offseason work.
Defensive coordinator Christian Parker said the concern was opponents using camp video to glean strategic clues, and that warning has plenty of backing around the NFL. Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley pointed to a game in which the Philadelphia Eagles appeared to use practice footage to anticipate pressures against his Green Bay Packers, and Jalen Hurts handled the blitz especially well in that matchup. For Dallas, the episode was less about optics than it was a reminder that in an information-driven league, even practice tape can become part of the chess match. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Roster Cuts Are Already Raising Questions Around Young Talent
The Cowboys roster cuts have already begun sending familiar names elsewhere, and Jaydon Blue is the latest example of how quickly the league can turn over a young player. After Dallas released him, Blue landed on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad, adding another wrinkle to a division rivalry while underlining how much interest there still is around unproven talent when teams trim down to their final roster.
Blue was hardly the only former Cowboy to find a new opportunity. Sam Williams, Julius Wood, and Trevor Keegan also moved on quickly, getting claimed or signed by other NFL teams in the wake of Dallas decisions. For the Cowboys, the immediate aftermath of cutdown day is more than a paperwork exercise, since it keeps exposing which young players other clubs believe are worth betting on. [Read more 🡒]