Cowboys scheduled visit with 6-time All-Pro suggests team isn't being totally honest
The Dallas Cowboys – front office and coaching staff – have publicly suggested Tyler Smith will be the team's starting left tackle after Tyron Smith's injury. A free agent scheduled visit could suggest otherwise. According to ESPN's Todd Archer, the Cowboys will visit with offensive tackle Jason Peters. A former rival of Dallas, Peters is 40 years […]
The Dallas Cowboys – front office and coaching staff – have publicly suggested Tyler Smith will be the team's starting left tackle after Tyron Smith's injury. A free agent scheduled visit could suggest otherwise.
According to ESPN's Todd Archer, the Cowboys will visit with offensive tackle Jason Peters. A former rival of Dallas, Peters is 40 years old and his prime is in the rearview mirror. However, as a 6-time All-Pro (2 first-team selections) Peters' experience could be invaluable.
Last year, Peters started 15 games for the Chicago Bears. Although it wasn't perfect, the potential future Hall of Famer finished the year graded as the 21st best tackle in the league.
"Nothing is set in stone," reported Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News. However, a visit is scheduled.
The Cowboys could have Peters fill one of two potential roles. He could be a swing tackle and insurance policy behind Tyler Smith.
But chances are he would start at left tackle. That would keep the Cowboys' first-round pick, Tyler Smith, at the position he worked in all of training camp. Not to mention, that would keep Peters from having to play on the right side if Terence Steele were to suffer an injury. Peters hasn't played at right tackle since 2006.
"I’d like to defer on our starting lineup," Mike McCarthy said at Wednesday's press conference. "But Tyler will definitely get a lot of work at left tackle. Earlier in the week, Stephen Jones claimed on 105.3 The Fan that "the plan is for it to be an in-house person."
For the last few days, I've believed the Cowboys' public comments. A reported visit of Jason Peters forces me to question them, though. If the Cowboys signed Peters, this would be the projected starting lineup:
LT: Jason Peters
LG: Tyler Smith
C: Tyler Biadasz
RG: Zack Martin
RT: Terence Steele
A combination that features Smith (73) and McGovern on the left side can't be better. Also, it would leave the door wide open for the Cowboys to put Tyron Smith back in the lineup if he comes back in December as they hope.
Featured image via Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
