Tyler Guyton has won the Dallas Cowboys’ left tackle job, at least for now.
That was supposed to be the plan when the Cowboys took him late in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, but the spot became a real question after head coach Brian Schottenheimer said in early June that the position was open between Guyton and Nate Thomas. After a short camp competition, Guyton is the one holding the starting role.
The reason the battle never really stayed wide open comes down to two things: Guyton’s growth and Thomas’ limitations. Guyton has had injuries in each of his first two seasons, and when he has been on the field, he hasn’t been steady enough to lock down the job without debate. Still, his work in camp has stood out enough to push him back in front.
Thomas had a chance to make this tighter after flashing last season. A seventh-round pick in the same draft as Guyton, he spent his rookie year on injured reserve with knee tendinitis.
Once he got back, he played in all 17 games and started four times after Guyton went down. There were positives, especially as a run blocker, but the pass protection issues never went away.
He gave up 23 pressures, three sacks and four penalties.
That’s why the coaching staff’s early plan to evaluate both tackles in four-day cycles didn’t last long. Thomas had some good moments, but Schottenheimer said he still wasn’t consistent enough. The gap in pass protection has been enough to separate the two.
Guyton, meanwhile, has looked like a different player in camp. The coaches have talked up his technical progress, and it’s showing.
His footwork has been cleaner, he’s getting out quickly, settling into his stance better, and playing with more balance and control. Several reps have shown better leverage and more comfort early in the play.
There’s also been a noticeable edge to his physicality. He went back to the weight room in early February, and that work has shown up in the way he’s been punching with his hands and driving defenders backward. The signs point to a player who may finally be putting it together.
Guyton came into the league with the kind of traits teams dream about at left tackle: elite athletic ability and the frame to match the position. The talent has always been obvious.
What hadn’t been obvious was whether he could make the developmental jump needed to protect the blindside of a franchise quarterback. Right now, the Cowboys are seeing more of that progress.
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