Cowboys taking huge risk with rumored Tyler Guyton plan after poor rookie year

The NFL Draft will be here before we know it and it is almost impossible to say what the Dallas Cowboys should do with the No. 12 overall pick.

There's an argument to be made for taking a wide receiver, cornerback, and potentially a defensive tackle depending on who's available. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is part of the equation as well, but perhaps the biggest question is whether Dallas should invest another first-round pick along the offensive line.

The Cowboys have drafted an OL in round one in two of the last three years: Tyler Smith (No. 24 overall) in 2022 and Tyler Guyton (No. 29) in 2024. This is not a particularly strong offensive line class, though, and offensive line is arguably the one position group that is deep enough to justify not drafting one early.

At the same time, though, both tackle positions have major question marks. Not only is Terence Steele a cut candidate, but Guyton struggled mightily at left tackle in year one.

It would be asinine to give up on Guyton after one season, but the Cowboys are playing a dangerous game with their rumored plan for the former Oklahoma star.

Cowboys are playing a dangerous game with rumored Tyler Guyton plan

According to Cowboys writer Patrik Walker, Guyton will remain at left tackle next season working under new offensive line coach Conor Riley, who was hired from Kansas State.

While Guyton showed flashes of a Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle as a rookie, he really struggled with pre-snap penalties. Even though Guyton ranked 26th in snaps played at left tackle, he committed the second-most penalties at the position (18), per PFF (subscription required).

Guyton's penalties derailed a number of promising drives and Mike McCarthy responded by essentially benching the rookie, though not entirely. He only started 11 of the 15 games he played, but would check into those games after the first couple of possessions. It was a weird process that Cowboys fans could not wrap their mind around.

Regardless, it is clear that Conor Riley thinks he can clean up Guyton's game. Riley spoke to the Dallas media on Tuesday for the first time since he was hired as offensive line coach and had a lot of nice things to say about the 23-year-old tackle.

"I see a tremendous talent who has, quite honestly, not been playing a lot of OL," Riley said, via Joseph Hoyt of All City DLLS. "The sky is truly the limit for a young man like that. There is going to be a process. ... He and I are just getting to know one another, but he has a tremendous skill set. ... I'm really excited to get to work with him."

Riley makes a great point about Guyton not playing a lot of football. He only played 70 snaps at left tackle at Oklahoma compared to over 1,000 snaps at right tackle. 2023, Guyton's final year in Norman before he declared for the draft, was his only season as a full-time tackle.

Cowboys talking heads have floated cutting Steele, shifting Guyton to right tackle and taking a potential new LT in the first round this year.

That could be the plan for 2026 if Guyton struggles again next season, but it makes sense why Dallas doesn't want to pull the plug on Guyton playing left tackle just yet.

The team's offensive line environment as far as coaching has not been up to snuff in recent years. With Riley now looking over the OL and offensive line guru Klayton Adams stepping in as offensive coordinator, Guyton, who is a tireless worker, is primed to make a year two leap.

It's definitely risky to keep Guyton at left tackle, but he deserves at least one more season with a revamped coaching staff to prove he can be the guy.