Tyler Guyton, Cowboys Who Boosted Stock with Strong Preseason Showing
The preseason might not mean much in terms of wins, losses and overall results, but it is an important opportunity for players around the league to show what they can do.
Rookies around the league will find the preseason important. It's their first chance to show how they handle NFL speed and potentially earn a role before the regular season kicks off.
The Cowboys went 1-2 in their three preseason games, but there were a few players who stepped up and helped their stock going into the season.
From a first-round pick to an undrafted free agent, here are three players who helped their stock with a strong preseason.
WR Ryan Flournoy
1 of 3
The Cowboys need their 2024 draft class to be much better than their 2023 class. Jerry Jones and Co. have put together a strong roster, but they needed the rookie group to help push them over the top.
That didn't really happen as only five rookies even saw the field. Mazi Smith and Luke Schoonmaker, the team's first two picks, were barely able to register an impact.
The Cowboys are hoping to get more out of their first three picks this season. Tyler Guyton (more on him later), Marshawn Kneeland and Cooper Beebe were each drafted at positions of immediate need.
It would also help if a Day 3 pick like Ryan Flournoy were able to get on the field. He did a lot to show that he could be that kind of player in the preseason.
Flournoy made the intiial 53-man roster, in part, because he made some impressive plays in the preseason. He was the only Cowboys player to score a touchdown in the preseason finale and he scored another one in the second preseason game against the Raiders.
He won't likely be involved in the offense right away as one of the last receivers to make the roster, but it wouldn't be surprising if he makes plays when his number is called.
TE Brevyn Spann-Ford
2 of 3
It's never easy for an undrafted free agent to make his way on the 53-man roster. There are hundreds of undrafted free agents every season and only a handful are on the active roster by Week 1.
Brevyn Spann-Ford will be one of those in Week 1 and his performance in preseason is a reason why.
It helped Spann-Ford that he has a specific skill that the Cowboys needed on their roster. At 6'6½", 260 pounds he brings rare size to the position and he excels as a blocker.
He showed that in the preseason and even added some production as a receiver.
The former Minnesota tight end earned the highest PFF grade on the team in the preseason finale and snagged three passes for 28 yards on 29 snaps.
One of the Cowboys biggest surprises on the 53-man roster was that they decided to keep four tight ends. Dallas choosing to keep Spann-Ford over a more experienced player like Peyton Hendershot speaks to how important the preseason games can be in these decisions.
OT Tyler Guyton
3 of 3
Unlike Brevyn Spann-Ford, there was no question that Tyler Guyton was going to make the roster for the Cowboys. The question was whether he was ready to be the team's starting left tackle right away.
Guyton did everything he could to put those questions to rest with his preseason play. PFF graded the former Oklahoma Sooner as the top-graded rookie tackle in the preseason.
Cory Kinnan of Sports Illustrated named Guyton the top rookie tackle in Week 1 of the preseason when he took 30 snaps and only allowed one pressure.
It's a good thing that Guyton has flashed the ability to play early on. The Cowboys are relying on him to replace Tyron Smith. The veteran tackle often dealt with injuries over the last several years, but he gave them elite play when he was on the field.
Guyton came out of the third game still ranked behind Chuma Edoga on the team's unofficial depth chart.
If the preseason is any indication, that won't last much longer.
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