RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 1 sourcesThe Dallas Cowboys ' biggest weakness on offense is not exactly a well-guarded secret. The team has an MVP-caliber quarterback, All-Pro level wideouts and a Pro Bowl running back. The interior of their offensive line sports a couple impressive youngsters and perhaps the best interior player in the entire league.
The only area of concern for Brian Schottenheimer's troops is on the trench's edge, where the pass protection from tackles Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele leave a lot to be desired. There's no hiding it. The team had Steele take a paycut in exchange for a guarantee he wouldn't be released, which immediately states the team thinks there's better play available, and they announced to the world that Guyton was in a competition with a seventh-round pick who was stashed as a rookie.
And now, as the team has arrived in Oxnard, CA for their 2026 training exercises, it appears the team is wide open to finding solutions to that problem. When speaking to reporters at the team's hotel, three-time Pro Bowler Tyler Smith allowed that it remains a possibility that he shifts outside to tackle to help solve the problem.
In fact, Smith says he's unsure whether he'll be asked to play guard or tackle.
Cowboys OL Tyler Smith has not been told yet if he will be at guard or tackle during training camp pic.twitter.com/t04hraRvKz
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) July 27, 2026 "We'll see what happens. Ultimately Schotty makes those decisions. So wherever I do wind up, I'm gonna be at the best of my abilities."
"I haven't been told anything," was how Smith followed up when asked if he had been told one way or another.
This actually echoes what the head coach said back in the spring, making it clear to Smith that he was in play for moving out to tackle in an effort to get the best offensive line group as possible for the 2026 season. Smith played left tackle as a rookie, and has started five contests there over the last two seasons, including the final three games of 2025 while Guyton dealt with a high-ankle sprain.
Smith sought clarity from the coaching staff before he entered the offseason, but Schottenheimer offered him no guarantees , stating that yes he was a guard in that current time.
"But he just wanted some direction and I said right now you're a guard," Schottenheimer said Wednesday. "At the end of the day, we're going to do what's best for the Dallas Cowboys (in) winning a Super Bowl and that's just like we did the last three games. If we got to move you to tackle we will and what I love about Tyler we were able to have that conversation and he said it makes perfect sense and I understand."
If Smith does move out to tackle, TJ Bass is more than likely going to move into the left guard slot after being given a second-round RFA tender in March. Bass is seen as a starting caliber player by many.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Are Cowboys moving All-Pro? Smith says coach non-committal on position
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.