Should Cowboys Urge Tyron Smith to Retire, Move Tyler, Draft O-Line?
The Dallas Cowboys offensive line had a down season by their lofty standards as Dak Prescott was sacked 39 times, the most since 2018 (56).
The "best five" continuity wasn't there all season, and when one piece - meaning Tyron Smith or Zack Martin - was absent, the offensive line looked shaky.
While Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass showed plenty in the Week 18 win over the Washington Commanders, there is still a need to fortify the unit.
With Tyron Smith getting another year older and despite when healthy, still playing at an All-Pro level, in CBS Sports' latest Mock Draft, his successor is taken in the first round with Duke's Graham Barton selected at No. 24.
"Tyron Smith is scheduled to hit free agency," CBS Sports writes. "If he departs, that could trigger a re-shuffling of Dallas' own. Tyler Smith has played guard but also played left tackle when the former Smith was injured. If he flips back out to left tackle, then the Cowboys will need some help on the interior."
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Now, this move is predicated on Smith not returning, and while there is some validity in the future Hall of Famer Tyron walking off into the sunset, he could also return on a similar contract as he did this season.
The "Tyron departs'' is the big story here. At 33, do the Cowboys keep handing him the keys to the position, hoping he stays healthy? Do they do that especially if Smith will come back on the cheap, as he did in 2023?
Or should both parties "rip off the Band-aid'' here and move on?
Maybe in either event, O-line help makes sense. So let's look at Barton.
The 6-5, 314-pound left tackle, per scouts, has the power to get off the line of scrimmage in the run game and often gets to the second level. In pass protection, it is said Barton's footwork allows him to anchor down to allow his quarterback time in the pocket and being on Dak's blindside, that could prove beneficial.
Barton is a better run blocker than a pass protector but Mike Solari (Dallas' offensive line coach) could improve Barton in that area during training camp.
Given the Cowboys' defense's weakness at linebacker, one could have been forgiven for Dallas taking one in the first round. And as always, we believe in taking the "best available (athlete)'' - BAA.
But it seems that solidifying the offensive line might be job No. 1 in the draft and in Barton, the Cowboys do just that. ... regardless of the looming Tyron decision.
