Cowboys Bet on Tackle Tyler Guyton for 2026 Season

Despite Struggles, Dallas Commits to Former First-Round Pick on Offensive Line

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:33pm

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The Dallas Cowboys are taking a gamble on third-year left tackle Tyler Guyton for the 2026 season. Despite Guyton's health and performance issues, the Cowboys are contractually committed to him as their starting left tackle due to a lack of better options and pressing needs elsewhere on the roster. The team hopes Guyton can realize his potential and become a cornerstone of the offensive line.

Why it matters

Left tackle is a critical position in the NFL, and the Cowboys need Guyton to step up and protect quarterback Dak Prescott's blindside. With limited resources to address the team's many roster needs, the Cowboys are betting on Guyton to develop into a reliable starter rather than spending another high draft pick on the offensive line.

The details

As a former first-round pick out of Oklahoma, Guyton has been the Cowboys' starting left tackle since his rookie year in 2024. While he has struggled with injuries and inconsistent play, the team remains committed to him due to a lack of better options. Swing tackle Nate Thomas has shown potential but is still considered a backup-caliber player. The Cowboys also have pressing needs on defense that will likely take priority in the 2026 draft, leaving little room to address the offensive line early.

  • Guyton was the 29th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
  • He has been the Cowboys' starting left tackle since his rookie season in 2024.
  • The Cowboys finished the 2025 season with a 7-9-1 record, missing the playoffs.

The players

Tyler Guyton

A third-year left tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, Guyton was a first-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2024. He has struggled with injuries and inconsistent play but remains the team's starting left tackle.

Nate Thomas

The Cowboys' expected swing tackle in 2026, Thomas impressed in training camp last summer and flashed potential during the regular season, but his overall body of work has been poor.

Dak Prescott

The Cowboys' starting quarterback, Prescott needs reliable protection on his blindside from the left tackle position.

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What they’re saying

“Left tackle is an extremely important position in the NFL and in an ideal world the Cowboys could add a better pass protector to watch Dak Prescott's blindside in 2026. But the Cowboys are anything but ideal and they need to gamble on Guyton even if they think the odds might be against them. It's a gamble they have to make.”

— Reid D Hanson, Author

What’s next

The Cowboys will need to see significant improvement from Guyton in 2026 if he is to remain their starting left tackle. The team will also closely monitor the development of swing tackle Nate Thomas to determine if he can elevate his game and potentially challenge Guyton for the starting job.

The takeaway

The Cowboys' decision to stick with Tyler Guyton at left tackle in 2026 highlights the difficult roster-building challenges facing the team. With limited resources to address all of their needs, the Cowboys are gambling that Guyton can finally live up to his first-round potential and solidify a critical position on the offensive line.