Cowboys' controversial decision vindicated by national media outlet
I don't think I need to remind you of this but it's still true: For the most part, when the Dallas Cowboys picked OL Tyler Smith in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, people didn't really love it. In fact, fans and media members accused the Cowboys of having "reached" for the so-called […]
I don't think I need to remind you of this but it's still true: For the most part, when the Dallas Cowboys picked OL Tyler Smith in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, people didn't really love it.
In fact, fans and media members accused the Cowboys of having "reached" for the so-called left tackle of the future. I'll admit I wasn't a fan of the pick either. But one year later, there's no doubt the team's controversial decision has been vindicated.
Smith's rookie season was a very successful one. He played at a very good level at left tackle even after a full offseason of preparing as a guard. And when they asked him to move inside here and there, he also delivered.
The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner put together a "re-draft" of the last year's draft and instead of going at 24th, Tyler Smith goes sixth overall to the Carolina Panthers. Although it's only a fun exercise, it shows how good the Cowboys' pick was in hindsight.
Here's what Baumgardner said about the "re-draft" pick:
It’s hard to briefly summarize just how impressive Smith’s performance was as a rookie. The Cowboys drafted him at No. 24 to be a guard, but he wound up starting Week 1 at left tackle and never really looked back. Though there may be quibbles with who the top rookie offensive lineman was last season, it’s impossible to argue against Smith being one of the biggest steals (perhaps the biggest steal) in last year’s draft.
That's some high praise for the Cowboys front office. And it's hard to disagree with Baumgardner, too. Tyler Smith was really one of the biggest steals of the draft last year.
Pre-draft concerns about his use of hands leading to multiple penalties held up as the Cowboys' young player was among the league's most penalized offensive linemen (11 penalties in 2022, per Pro Football Reference).
However, Smith showed what he was all about with very good (and violent) run blocking. In pass protection, he was far from a liability even though he's a work in progress.
But the Cowboys' selection aged so well that he'd be the very first offensive lineman off the board if the NFL were to run it back.
What's even more exciting is what's ahead, though. In 2023, Tyler Smith will likely get a full offseason preparing as an offensive tackle. He worked with OL guru Duke Manyweather last year and the results were visible.
Now give him another year of work with some NFL experience under his belt and it sounds like a scary proposition for rival teams.
