Tyron Smith & Zack Martin Future? Cowboys Make Offensive Line Moves in NFL Mock Draft
The Dallas Cowboys' offensive line was an issue this season, as there was hardly any continuity along the front five. When there was, we saw the unit get rolling as Dallas rattled off five straight wins.
While Terrance Steele struggled in his comeback from his ACL injury, veteran Tyron Smith was at his All-Pro best ... when healthy. Given Smith's age and his inability to play a full season, could the Cowboys look to fortify the offensive line?
That is CBS Sports' thinking as Dallas takes Washington guard Troy Fautanu in the first round of their Mock Draft.
"Left tackle Tyron Smith is scheduled to hit free agency at 33 years old," CBS Sports writes. "He played very well this past season, but Dallas should explore its options. Tyler Smith was picked in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was called into left tackle duty when Smith was injured. The team could go back down that route, which creates a void at one of the starting offensive guard spots opposite Zack Martin. Fautanu has played left tackle for Washington but projects inside at the next level."
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Whether or not Smith returns is a looming question for Dallas, and despite how well he played, when he wasn't in the lineup, his absence was noticeable as Chuma Edoga isn't the answer at left tackle.
Tyler Smith could in theory move out to left tackle (where he was originally expected to play when drafted) while having Fautanu slot in at guard. Although given how much time Smith has spent at guard, the Cowboys could possibly push Fautanu to tackle as he played there for Washington this season. So either way it could work.
Also, considering that Dak Prescott was sacked 39 times this year, which is the second-highest of his career, reinforcements could be made in an attempt to protect him better.
One thing that the Cowboys might like about Fautanu is his physicality and his explosiveness in the run game. His ability to burst off the line and get up to the second level in a flash is a feature. Dallas lacked a run game all season and with Fautanu's aggressiveness, that could be a welcomed sight for the Cowboys.
Tyron Smith is 33. So is Zack Martin. They have been staples of the Cowboys' offensive line in historically great ways. Change is coming, eventually - maybe in this upcoming NFL Draft.
