​Getting their offensive line back to dominance remains a work in progress for the Cowboys, but one crucial piece is already in place: Tyler Smith, who is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s top guards. Dallas envisions him as a cornerstone of the 2026 squad, and he is positioned to play a central role in the team’s competitive objectives for years to come. Smith arrived in 2022 after the Cowboys drafted him in the first round, marking a shift toward a new era for Dallas’ interior blocking. Before that draft, Dallas had not spent a first-round pick on an offensive lineman since Zack Martin in 2014, though they accumulated a number of impactful mid-round selections along the way—names like Chaz Green, Connor Williams, Connor McGovern, Tyler Biadasz, and Josh Ball among others. The moment Smith was chosen, a multi-year starter at tackle at Tulane, it felt less like mere maintenance and more like the dawn of an offensive line renaissance.
Zack Martin and Tyron Smith remained as veteran anchors, but the elder Smith’s durability was increasingly in doubt. A major leg injury in late August forced Dallas to pivot, placing Smith at left guard as Tyron recovered. Smith started all 17 games that season, holding the job even after Tyron’s return from injury. Despite the rookie-year learning curve and the abrupt position switch, Smith’s performance earned him All-Rookie Team honors, signaling his potential to become a top lineman.
With Tyron back in 2023, Smith returned to his original trajectory at guard. The impact was immediate: he transformed from a solid tackle into an elite guard, earning his first Pro Bowl and a Second-Team All-Pro nod. Since then, he has continued to be selected to the Pro Bowl every season, consistently recognized as one of the league’s best at his position. As the former guard lineup shifted and aged, Smith emerged as the heir apparent to that throne. He’s positioned to share that legacy with players like Tyler Booker and Cooper Beebe in the coming years, but for now he stands alone as the standout star of Dallas’s offensive line and its definitive leader moving forward.
Years Left: 5
2026 Cap Hit: $10.3 million
When Dallas extended Smith last year, elevating him to the highest-paid guard in the NFL, the club signaled its intent to maximize every dollar in the short term through annual cap restructuring. He’ll be 30 when the current contract expires, giving the Cowboys considerable confidence in preserving their leverage in the later years. Role: Starting Left Guard
Roster Chance: 100%
The only scenario in which Smith wouldn’t start at left guard this season is if he somehow becomes the starting left tackle. That debate has persisted since his rookie year, but Dallas has consistently prioritized keeping Smith in a position where he can be a dominant force and where he has expressed a clear desire to play. Until Tyler Guyton or another player proves he can lock down the left tackle spot, Smith’s future remains at left guard, with the ever-present possibility of a shift if circumstances demand it.
For better SEO, this overview emphasizes Smith’s pivotal role, career trajectory, and the potential for continued growth alongside Dallas’s evolving interior line.