Cowboys' Position Battles to Watch Ahead of 2024 NFL Season
While it may feel like the 2023 NFL season just ended, the start of the 2024 campaign is rapidly approaching. OTAs are in full swing, and the preseason is just over two months away. For the Dallas Cowboys, it's a critical juncture in the offseason.
Dallas experienced a lot of roster turnover during free agency and didn't do a ton to reload before last month's draft.
While centerpiece players like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs remain at the Cowboys' core, the team's level of success in 2024 might hinge on a few ongoing position battles.
Several key positions now lack a clear-cut starter heading into training camp. Here, we'll dive into the most important positional competitions to follow during the remainder of the offseason. You'll find a look at the players most likely to be involved and how each battle could impact the upcoming season.
Left Tackle
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The Cowboys parted with longtime starting left tackle Tyron Smith in free agency, which leaves a massive hole along the offensive line. Rookie first-round pick Tyler Guyton will get an opportunity to fill it, but there are some potential problems with that plan.
Guyton isn't a particularly experienced prospect, having started just one season at Oklahoma. That could lead to some rookie growing pains.
"He can eventually bloom into a high-end starter in the NFL, but he will need to be brought along slowly in a conservative scheme and veteran O-line room before bridging that gap," Brandon Thorn of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote.
Guyton will also have to make the switch from right to left tackle, which further raises his learning curve in Year 1. Unfortunately, Dallas doesn't have many enticing alternatives.
Asim Richards and Matt Waletzko may push Guyton at tackle, but the Cowboys might ultimately decide to move Tyler Smith from guard to tackle, where he played as a rookie during Tyron Smith's injury absence, early in the season.
Of course, going that route would then open a hole at left guard. Chuma Edoga provides depth there, and the Cowboys may try multiple lineups at guard and tackle on the left side throughout the remainder of the offseason.
Ideally, though, Guyton will develop quickly and become Prescott's new blindside protector in Week 1.
Center
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The Cowboys also lost starting center Tyler Biadasz in free agency, and they tapped rookie third-round pick Cooper Beebe to replace him. Offensive line coach Mike Solari has already relayed that the rookie will be in the mix at center.
"Right after the draft, he called me and said, 'Start working on center,'" Beebe said, per Patrik Walker of the team's official website.
Here's the thing, though. Like Guyton, Beebe will be in line for a position switch. While he started games at both guard spots and both tackle spots for Kansas State, Beebe never started at center.
At least Dallas has a decent Plan B at the position. Brock Hoffman appeared in 20 games over the past two seasons and made a pair of starts in 2023. The 2022 undrafted free agent has been with the Cowboys since November of his rookie season, and he was mentally preparing to replace Biadasz before the draft.
"I'm training like I'm ready to be that guy," Hoffman said in March, per Nick Harris of the team's official website.
The good news here is that Hoffman's presence gives Dallas some options. If he proves capable of starting at center, Beebe's experience at guard could allow the Cowboys to move Tyler Smith to tackle until Guyton is ready to take over.
Running Back
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Dallas lost starting running back Tony Pollard in free agency and did little to reload the position this offseason. The Cowboys added Royce Freeman before the draft and brought back Ezekiel Elliott after it but did not take a running back during.
This means that Elliott, who averaged just 3.5 yards per carry with the New England Patriots in 2023, is probably back in the starting role.
"It's a group by committee. What he'll add to that group, we're excited about it," v ice president of player personnel Will McClay said, per Joseph Hoyt of Lone Star Live.
Unfortunately, Elliott doesn't appear to have a lot left in the proverbial tank. He's averaged less than 4.0 yards per carry in each of the past two seasons, and he's topped 1,000 rushing yards only once over the past four.
Elliott had 1,002 rushing yards in 2021.
A committee of Elliott, Freeman, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn looks remarkably underwhelming, at least on paper. Putting that group behind an offensive line that is in transition generates even more concern.
Of course, Dallas might find a functional rotation if it can match players with the proper roles during OTAs, minicamps and training camps. If it can't, it might be time to consider other alternatives on the free-agent and trade markets ahead of Week 1.
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