Cowboys offensive line will begin new era in 2024
Remember how deadly the Cowboys’ offensive line of Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin was?
It is hard to believe that just one of them remains in Dallas.
With Smith headed north to the Jets and Frederick entering his fifth year of retirement, Martin is the lone soldier from that dominant era.
CeeDee Lamb supporting Brett Maher 💙
(🎥: @dallascowboys) https://t.co/ekjHbM9iTM pic.twitter.com/LTRCwq883v
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) January 19, 2023
Remember how deadly the Cowboys’ offensive line of Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin was?
It is hard to believe that just one of them remains in Dallas.
With Smith headed north to the Jets and Frederick entering his fifth year of retirement, Martin is the lone soldier from that dominant era.
The two rookies are entering with major responsibilities.
Both will likely be starters in their very first season, and Guyton will be protecting Dak Prescott’s blindside.
In the case of Smith, he will look to continue his All-Pro play as Martin reportedly considers passing him the torch after the 2024 season.
In short, this is a big transition year for the Cowboys’ offensive line.
Let’s take a closer look at each of the new “big three” as we head into their inaugural season together.
The Leader of the Pack
There is no debate over which young Cowboys offensive lineman is the face of the group.
Smith, just 31 games into his NFL career, has cemented himself as one of the league’s best.
After receiving both an All-Pro and Pro Bowl nod for his dominant 2023 campaign, the expectations are higher than ever for this former 1st-round pick.
Questions surrounded his actual position this offseason, with some suggesting a move to left tackle.
But Smith is staying put at left guard, and for one main reason: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The former Tulsa standout has been better than even the Cowboys expected in his young career.
Unreal block & mental processing from Quenton Nelson to read this LB blitz and work back across the formation to pick it up. pic.twitter.com/3PeQIZV1jh
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) November 19, 2019
Pro Football Focus recently ranked Smith as the 4th best offensive guard in the entire league.
This rating surpassed his elder counterpart Martin, who ranked seventh on the list.
If that isn’t a sign that times have changed and a new era has arrived, I don’t know what is.
The New Left Tackle in Town
Life as a sports fan includes watching your favorite players leave at some point.
But, even the most veteran Cowboys fans had to feel it when Smith left this offseason for the Jets.
After 13 seasons and eight Pro Bowl appearances from Smith, Guyton is taking the reigns at left tackle.
The former Oklahoma Sooner was an obvious pick for Dallas in this year’s draft, but now the real work starts.
Coaches and fans alike have loved his attitude since being drafted.
Why have the Cowboys been so inactive in free agency? An important question. Examining the franchise’s finances, how it got here and what’s ahead. https://t.co/5Mlp2rEcW2
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) April 22, 2024
You’d be hard-pressed to find a rookie in the league more excited about joining their new team than Guyton was back in April.
His size and athleticism give him a chance to fill Smith’s shoes well, but there are concerns about how ready he is.
For the new era on the Cowboys offensive line to work, Guyton must protect Prescott well.
Nobody is expecting him to be Smith right away, but considering Dallas’s role as a contender, they need that blindside to hold up.
All eyes will be on Smith during his rookie season, for better or for worse.
New Center Manning the Middle
The majority of the conversation about the rookie offensive lineman will be about Guyton.
But, we can’t forget about Beebe, who is also inheriting a starting job.
Dallas drafted Beebe with the 3rd-rounder they got from the Lions earlier in the draft, and since his name was announced two months ago, fans have loved him.
Beebe’s gritty attitude, demeanor, and playstyle are easy to like.
I have doubts that he will ever be the most talented of this new big three, but when it comes to reliability, it is hard to beat him.
Coming out of Kansas State, that consistency and versatility was a main selling point.
He’ll have a big job handling the middle of the Cowboys offensive line, but a long college career has prepared him for the moment.
Not to mention, he is going to have to beat out fellow-center Brock Hoffman for the top job.
I expect him to win that competition, and that kind of early-career adversity will only help him in the long run.
This new era for the Cowboys front is one of the most exciting aspects of this season.
Watching Beebe, Guyton, and Smith blossom will give fans a look into the next 10+ years of the offensive line.
