What the selection of Tyler Smith means for the Dallas Cowboys

The first-round of the 2022 NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Dallas Cowboys came away with a potential starting offensive lineman. Dallas grabbed Tulsa offensive lineman Tyler Smith with the No. 24 pick in the first-round. Smith is projected to slide in at left guard and become an immediate starter next to Tyron […]

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Dallas Cowboys

The first-round of the 2022 NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Dallas Cowboys came away with a potential starting offensive lineman.

Dallas grabbed Tulsa offensive lineman Tyler Smith with the No. 24 pick in the first-round. Smith is projected to slide in at left guard and become an immediate starter next to Tyron Smith in Dallas.

It was no secret that the Cowboys were looking to add an offensive line early. Top offensive line targets Kenyon Green (No. 15) and Zion Johnson (No. 17) were taken prior to the Cowboys' selection.

Wide receiver was another possible target for the Cowboys. Then, six pass catchers flew off the board within the first 20 picks. That took that route off the table, as no receiver was taken in the first-round after Treylon Burks was grabbed at No. 18 by the Eagles.

Thus, the Cowboys opted to stay put and take — what they considered to be — the best offensive lineman available. Dallas chose Smith over the likes of Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, FSU edge Jermaine Jonson, and Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean.

What the pick means for the Cowboys

Adding Smith to the equation allowed the Cowboys to address a glaring need on the roster. It was simply crucial for the Dallas Cowboys to come away with a starting caliber offensive lineman in the 2022 draft.

Smith has the ability to be a plug-and-play prospect in the interior of the offensive line. That is due to the nastiness and edge that he plays with. The Tulsa product is a force in run blocking and plays through the whistle.

Smith graded as one of the top run-blocking tackles in all of college football last season by Pro Football Focus. He is a machine in the run game and consistently moves defenders with ease thanks to his impressive play strength.

The Cowboys struggled to get much of a push last season between the likes of Connor Williams, Connor McGovern, and Tyler Biadasz inside. Smith negates that issue and should immediately pave running lanes for Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.

Tyler Smith is expected to earn the starting left guard spot by the time that week one rolls around. That gives the Cowboys a projected offensive line of:

  • Tyron Smith, LT
  • Tyler Smith, LG
  • Tyler Biadasz, OC
  • Zack Martin, RG
  • Terence Steele, RT

Smith is just 21-years-old, suggesting that he has a lot of room to grow. The Dallas Cowboys are banking on the opportunity to mold their newest first-rounder into the next successful blocker in the franchise.

Dallas will likely look to address needs at wide receiver, pass rusher, tight end, and linebacker in the remainder of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Featured image via Mary Holt-USA Today Sports

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