​ESPN is continuing its march toward training camp by unveiling top players at every position, and the latest edition places Cowboys guard Tyler Smith at the pinnacle as the NFL’s best interior offensive lineman. Smith, who originally entered the league as a tackle, was a 2022 first-round pick out of Tulsa. He has smoothly transitioned into an elite guard, leveraging his run-blocking physicality and improved pass protection to become one of the most complete players in football. Even though he tops the list, it’s worth noting that ESPN describes his 72.1% run-game win rate and 95.2% pass-game win rate as strong but not elite numbers, which should be read as a positive assessment rather than a dig. The caveat comes from a knee issue that lingered throughout the season, illustrating that health simply adds to the appreciation for his established capabilities.
Smith’s No. 1 ranking did not come without debate. Among the coaches, executives, and scouts surveyed by ESPN, at least one voter didn’t place Smith in the top 10 at all, a surprising stance that underscores how opinions on guards and centers can vary widely. The respondents’ rankings were notably splintered: eight of the top 10 players received at least one first-place vote, yet eight others in that same top tier were unranked entirely by at least one voter. Despite this contested landscape, Smith narrowly edged out his peers thanks to his raw ability and overall impact. That standout talent solidifies his place as the centerpiece of Dallas’s interior line.
The argument for Smith extends beyond his individual prowess. He has become the cornerstone of an offensive line that continually evolves around him, anchoring both the run game and the pass protection for Dak Prescott and the rest of the Cowboys. An AFC executive captured the sentiment, calling Smith a “rare combination of size, athleticism, strength and finish” and likening him to “prime Jason Peters playing guard.” Such praise reflects the esteem in which he’s held league-wide and reinforces why his position atop the interior linemen ranking is a storyline worth watching as the season approaches.
Beyond Smith, ESPN also highlighted rookie Tyler Booker, who earned honorable mention in the same ranking. Booker, still early in his professional development, has already generated buzz for his power, technique, and potential. The feedback from NFL coordinators points to a complement of strengths and areas for growth: a player who is “strong and athletic with physicality” but who may face challenges matching up with quicker, more lateral movers. Booker’s trajectory suggests he could join Smith in the upper echelon of interior linemen in the future when he fully matures in the NFL.
The juxtaposition of Smith and Booker underscores a broader theme for the Cowboys: their continued investment in the offensive line is paying dividends. With a proven All-Pro-caliber guard anchored in the middle and a rising talent ready to contribute on his flank, Dallas appears well positioned to maintain interior dominance for years to come. The unit’s progress also invites discussion of how far the Cowboys can go with a formidable trench presence, and it sets up a compelling narrative about the team’s potential to elevate their line play even further.
A notable omission from ESPN’s list was center Cooper Beebe. If his progression continues, Beebe could emerge this season as a serious contender for next year’s rankings and potentially thrust himself into the conversation at the center position. As the league evolves, Dallas’s ongoing development of the interior line—headlined by Smith and supported by Booker and others—could position the Cowboys not only to boast the league’s best interior lineman but to pair him with a trusted partner inside the trenches.
In the end, the excitement around Tyler Smith’s ascent is more than a single accolade. It reinforces the idea that Dallas has cultivated a durable, high-functioning interior line that anchors the offense and creates new possibilities for both the running game and the passing attack. The synergy between Smith’s established excellence and Booker’s budding ceiling is a compelling storyline this season, one that could define how the Cowboys approach trench warfare and playoff contention in the years ahead. If everything clicks, Dallas might well be fielding not just the league’s best interior lineman, but a premier interior duo that strengthens the entire offensive unit.