Could Dallas Cowboys see a surprise player at offensive guard?

Perhaps one of the most overlooked concerns for the 2021 Dallas Cowboys lies at the interior offensive line. Although the starters look solid, there isn't a lot of depth at guard and/or center. And oftentimes, these situations lead to a surprise or two in how the 53-man roster looks once cuts have been made. One […]

Mauricio Rodriguez Dallas Cowboys News Writer
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Jul 29, 2021; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Garrett Gilbert (3) during training camp at the River Ridge playing fields at the Residence Inn by Marriott in Oxnard, California. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps one of the most overlooked concerns for the 2021 Dallas Cowboys lies at the interior offensive line. Although the starters look solid, there isn't a lot of depth at guard and/or center. And oftentimes, these situations lead to a surprise or two in how the 53-man roster looks once cuts have been made.

One could say the Cowboys have better overall depth at the offensive line than last year, but that improvement comes almost exclusively from the tackle position. Although last season the performance from backup tackles was far from ideal, the Cowboys are well positioned in 2021 to withstand any minor injuries to La'el Collins or Tyron Smith.

However, things do not look as promising in the interior offensive line.

Connor Williams, Tyler Biadasz, and Zack Martin are set to be the Dallas Cowboys starters. Not too shabby. In fact, it should be a better unit than most would think. Williams showed much-needed improvement last year, and Biadasz is coming off a strong camp after getting some NFL experience last season.

Behind this set of starters, though, there's not much to talk about. The Cowboys have Connor McGovern, who has center experience from college and could probably play both positions inside. They also drafted Matt Farniok out of Nebraska in the seventh round, but he's far from a lock to make the Cowboys 53-man roster.

Apparently, neither McGovern nor Farniok has done enough to convince the Cowboys' coaching staff that they have a legit backup center. In training camp, the team has experimented with Connor Williams sliding over to center in case of a Tyler Biadasz injury during the season.

Beyond McGovern and Farniok, here's what the Cowboys unofficialdepth chart looks like before the Hall of Fame Game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers:

LG: Eric Smith (listed originally as OT in Cowboys' roster)

C: Braylon Jones (UDFA)

RG: Brandon Knight (backup OT), Isaac Alarcón

As you can see, the Cowboys don't have any clear-cut candidate to make the roster at guard/center. However, given the lack of depth at the position, any player could shock fans by earning a spot on the roster with a strong preseason.

Whenever an undrafted free agent makes the team, it's a surprise. But the Dallas Cowboys have seen some key UDFAs make their teams over the past couple of years. Although no one seems to be rising up to the occasion this year, the circumstances could lead to a surprise spot for Braylon Jones if he puts together a strong preseason.

The same is true for Eric Smith and Isaac Alarcón. Isaac, who arrived in Dallas through the International Player Pathway, slid over from tackle to guard this offseason. The position change gives him a better shot at making the 53, as there's less competition going on inside than at tackle.

Alarcón doesn't have a lack of fans rooting for him, as just about everyone in Mexico and Latin America is rooting for him. In Mexico, NFL Gamepass will even let fans stream the Hall of Fame Game for free.

Although they should be considered longshots to make the Dallas Cowboys 53-man roster,  Braylon Jones, Isaac Alarcón, or even Eric Smith could make a surprise push for a spot this preseason. Otherwise, the Cowboys could go short at guard/center when building the final roster.

Featured image via Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports