Versatility is one of the best qualities an athlete can possess.
The Dallas Cowboys have had to rely on it in recent years, particularly with guard Tyler Smith, whose move to left tackle over the final three games has been and will be one of the major storylines of Dallas’ 2026 offseason.
Smith’s move one spot over began during the teams 34-17 Week 16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Dallas kept him at left tackle the rest of the way during road matchups against the Washington Commanders and New York Giants.
Now that the season is over, the question for head coach Brian Schottenheimer is whether the former 2022 first-round pick stays put or returns to his normal responsibilities at guard.
Schottenheimer and Smith met this week to discuss that matter.
“It was great, Tyler and I just had [the conversation],” Schottenheimer said during Wednesday’s end of season presser. “I explained to him, ‘Right now, you’re a guard. But at the end of the day, we’re going to do what’s best for the Dallas Cowboys and winning a Super Bowl.’”
Over the final three games playing tackle, Smith allowed five pressures and just one sack, per Pro Football Focus.
However, when first asked about the move, Smith gave his preference.
“I’m an All-Pro guard, bro that’s the simple truth,” Smith said. “If we’re just looking at stuff purely off facts,” Smith said. “So we’ll see what happens, we’ll have those conversations when we have those conversations and kind of see where everybody’s head is at.”
Dallas backed up the money truck early in the season and made him the highest-paid guard in the league with a four-year, $96 million extension.
“Obviously, I made a lot of money playing, offensive guard,” Smith said during Monday’s exit interviews. “That’s what it is, and I had the most reps I have in the NFL at offensive guard. So, obviously, I’m more comfortable there.
“I feel like I just need to know, you know, this year, it was kind of injuries guys were up and down, and so of course, you know, I made that move for the team, but you know, we’re going to kind of find out what what the grand scheme of things is going to be, and it might be a conversation that carries on, you know for longer than just today.”
With the idea of the three-time Pro Bowl guard playing tackle in the mix, where does that leave 2024 first-rounder Tyler Guyton, who heads into Year 3 with the Cowboys?
There is the idea of moving him to the right side if the Cowboys move on from Terence Steele, a possible cap casualty this offseason.
However, as it stands, Steele will be a part of the team’s plans, owner Jerry Jones said when he was asked about whether the team could move on from the veteran tackle this spring.
“No, I want [Steele] to be a part of our future,” Jones said.
Even if they keep Smith at guard, is the coaching staff still confident in Guyton and his health at left tackle? Only time will tell.
