Cowboys: Guyton – Dallas plans for Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas to compete for the starting left tackle job after Guyton struggled with health and consistency, starting just 21 games in two seasons. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said the competition will push Guyton to earn it, wi
Dallas didn’t draft Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas 29th and 204th overall in 2024 expecting their left tackle plans to get this complicated so quickly.
Guyton. the offensive tackle the Cowboys selected with the 29th overall pick in the 2024 draft. was tasked with moving from right tackle at Oklahoma to left tackle to replace Tyron Smith. The transition simply hasn’t gone the way the team hoped. In his two seasons, Guyton has struggled with both health and consistency, starting only 21 games.
On Thursday. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer made the decision feel blunt: Guyton will compete for the starting job with Nate Thomas. “Tyler understands the importance of this year,” Schottenheimer said, via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. “Why?. Because it’s the next year. We’re going to make Tyler earn it. Tyler and Nate Thomas right now are competing to start at left tackle. Why?. Because we think that’s going to get the best out of Tyler Guyton and the best out of Nate Thomas.”.
Guyton’s knee injury in training camp helped shape the current reality. When it sidelined him, Thomas replaced him with the first-team offense in practice. That early break became a run: Thomas ended up making his first four career starts in 2025.
The twist is that the left tackle job hasn’t been a clean two-man fight either. Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith started the final four games at left tackle, but he prefers to stay at left guard, leaving the Cowboys back where they started—searching for stability on the left side.
Schottenheimer didn’t hide what’s been missing from Guyton’s résumé in Dallas. “Tyler’s biggest thing is the consistency has not been there,” he said. “Very talented. maybe one of the most athletic big men I’ve ever been around with his ability to kick-slide. punch. move [and] run. But there’s got to be more consistency. That’s been the challenge, he’s been working extremely, extremely hard at.”.
The Cowboys’ next move is simple in words and heavy in consequence: Guyton and Thomas will compete for the starting left tackle spot, even though the plan that followed the 2024 draft was supposed to look more settled than this.
Dallas Cowboys Tyler Guyton Nate Thomas left tackle Brian Schottenheimer Tyron Smith Tyler Smith knee injury training camp 2025 starts
So they drafted a guy and now he has to “earn it” again?? Sounds like they messed up from day one.
Wait I’m confused—didn’t Tyron Smith already replace someone? Now it’s like a whole rotation at left tackle. My head hurts.
Maybe the knee injury is why he’s been “inconsistent,” but also left tackle is like the hardest spot, so idk. They act like Nate Thomas is just gonna magically be good because he started a few games.
This is why you don’t take chances in the draft. If Guyton couldn’t stay healthy, what was the plan even for? And Tyler Smith at left tackle for four games… that’s not “stability,” that’s patchwork. I swear coaches say “compete” when they don’t have an answer.