It happened fast, but Tyler Smith is no longer the young kid on the offensive line. Going into Year 4, Smith is now the leader on the offensive line and with three starters entering their first or second seasons (Tyler Guyton, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker), it’s a new look on the offensive line for Dallas.
But one of the reasons why the Cowboys feel comfortable with the current state of their offensive line is due to Tyler Smith and his versatility. The expectation is that Smith will stay at left guard for the foreseeable future, but his experience at tackle will always make him one of the most valuable linemen in the league.
But where does Smith rank among his peers at guard alone going into the 2025 season?
In a recent article by Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus, he ranked the top 32 guards in the NFL going into the 2025 season. Smith came in at No. 6 on the list, which is a slight surprise given how dominant he was during the 2023 season. However, PFF is clearly very high on the former Tulsa standout:
Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer can help Tyler Smith become NFL's best offensive lineman
"At just 24 years old, Smith profiles as the next generation of dominant all-around blockers in the NFL, and his best is yet to come. Since being drafted in 2022, Smith has never posted a PFF overall grade below 73.0, showing improvements each year. Smith really stands out as a gap-scheme run blocker, placing in the 94th percentile in grading on gap concepts over his career."
Mason Cameron, Pro Football Focus
The Cowboys are expected to run more gap-blocking schemes this year, which is excellent news for Smith. He is one of the most powerful guards in the league, and Brian Schottenheimer’s scheme should allow him to showcase that strength more often.
The hope is that with the addition of Tyler Booker, another mauling offensive guard, the Cowboys will be able to open up massive holes in the run game and really improve in that area.
Smith is already one of the league’s best offensive linemen, and a new scheme change should do wonders for his game. He was fantastic during his rookie season at left tackle and then had an All-Pro caliber season in 2023 at left guard. Smith missed some time with a hamstring injury during the 2024 season, but he was still a dominant player at guard.
Don’t be surprised if he ends up being the No. 1 guard on this list a year from now, as he is finally in the perfect scheme for his skill set. Expect Tyler Smith to have a career season here in 2025.