​We all expect the Dallas Cowboys’ offense to be elite again in 2026, and it’s hard to argue with that optimism given the talent at quarterback and wide receiver. Yet a persistent weakness looms that could cap the ceiling if the right player doesn’t emerge. The assumption that the offense will simply be great ignores a real concern: the Cowboys’ pass protection on the edge entering 2026 training camp. Tyler Smith has shown star potential at left guard, and the interior of the line looks sturdy. But the real questions revolve around the edges, where tackle play could hinge the unit’s trajectory.
On the interior, Dallas appears strong. Tyler Smith is among the game’s better offensive guards, and Tyler Booker is entering his second season at right guard with a rookie campaign that already suggested he could be a difference-maker. Center Cooper Beebe may not yet match their ceiling, but he’s a solid piece who continues to improve. Together, these three anchor the run game and provide reliable protection up the middle, a trio that often goes underappreciated because they’re not the flashier tackles who grab the headlines.
The concerns start at tackle. Guyton has effectively been in a competition for the left-tackle job with Nate Thomas, a former seventh-round pick from the same draft class. I’m skeptical that this is a genuine, evenly matched battle; it reads more like a motivational tactic from head coach Brian Schottenheimer than a true race for the job. On the right side, Terence Steele has had notable struggles in pass protection since injuries interrupted his trajectory. He’s long been viewed as a better run blocker than protector, and his performance deteriorated to the point where he accepted a pay cut to stay with the team in 2026.
Here’s the key context: the Cowboys have already shown they can navigate weaknesses in pass protection. In 2025, Dak Prescott was the most effective quarterback under pressure in the NFL. How did he pull that off? By getting rid of the ball quickly and accurately, avoiding safe check-downs, and continuing to push the ball downfield. Crucially, he also minimized the frequency with which pressure actually affected him—PFF’s metrics show Prescott was responsible for the relatively low rate of pressure, even when the line faced its challenges.
That ability to flatten the impact of edge pressure gave Dallas a blueprint for success. If the protection on the edges can be improved, or at least stabilized, the Cowboys could take a significant step forward. The question becomes whether Guyton, Steele, and the rest of the blockers can elevate their play to a level that makes the edge pressure a non-factor in the equation. If Guyton makes a leap and earns the left-tackle job through genuine, sustained improvement, the outlook for the offense shifts from “good” to “great.” If not, the ceiling could plateau at a high level but still left short of the elite echelon.
So yes, Dallas has the talent and the strategic playmaking to overcome obstacles, but there is a clear distinction between addressing a weakness and fully eliminating it. Guyton’s development could be the decisive difference between an offense that remains good and one that becomes the best in the NFL. The next steps are critical: how Guyton adapts to the left-tackle role, how Steele handles pass protection under pressure, and whether the coaching staff can maximize the interior trio’s effectiveness while stabilizing the edges. If those pieces click, the 2026 Cowboys offense has every reason to ascend to a new level.