Dallas Cowboys add new layers to their biggest position battle, with a longshot contender entering the ring
The Dallas Cowboys are figuring things out at offensive tackle, and it extends beyond the left tackle competition announced by head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
When Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas would compete for the starting left tackle job, everyone thought it was a straightforward battle.
But the latest observation from Day 1 of mandatory minicamp adds layers to a complicated situation. And it raises more questions than answers.
Cowboys show new rotation at tackle
According to Dallas Morning News’ Joseph Hoyt, Thomas is taking second-team snaps at right tackle—where Terence Steele currently starts. That’s in addition to him competing for the starting job to protect Dak Prescott’s blindside.
Now, that by itself isn’t a big deal on the surface. If Thomas is going to be the backup tackle, he will likely be asked to play on both sides of the line. Not to mention, this is only minicamp after all. Offensive line battles get real until training camp comes around.
But there are a few things to take away from the development.
For starters, it can be looked at as confirmation that Guyton is the favorite to start Week 1. Thomas is getting a swing tackle workload, not the other way around. It looks like it’s Guyton’s job to lose.
Another contender steps in the ring?
The report also brings a new name into the mix: fourth-round rookie Drew Shelton.
The product out of Penn State took second-team snaps behind Guyton while Thomas took right side snaps. Now, we’re talking about a longshot candidate to start here. Shelton dropped to Day 3 of the NFL Draft largely because of strength concerns, which he must work on before the regular season. But he has the agility and tools to be an NFL starter.
Hoyt’s report is the first public sign of Shelton getting second-team snaps. And while he wasn’t announced as part of the battle to start at left tackle, it’s not like the bar has been set very high by Guyton and Thomas in the past (there’s a reason why there’s no clear-cut starter).
Consider Shelton a sleeper to watch when training camp kicks off.
Our Drew Shelton scouting report
Prior to the NFL Draft, this is what our own Travis May wrote about Shelton:
- Scout’s take: The entire Penn State offense struggled in 2025, so much so, they fired their head coach. However, that was no Drew Shelton’s fault. Shelton was already obviously an NFL-ready tackle prior to his final season, then played perhaps his best year yet last fall. He gave up just one sack, and held up against some of the best defenses in the country, despite blocking for backup quarterbacks for much of the year. Shelton might benefit from starting out at guard, learning from some more detail-oriented tackles, then trying his hand shifting outside after a year or two.
The Cowboys have to get this one right
We already saw Dak Prescott can make the offense work even with pass protection concerns at offensive tackle. But to be honest, when the Cowboys faced the toughest defensive fronts, the passing game took a hit.
Guyton is the team’s best candidate in terms of upside and the hope has to be he steps up in Year 3. But when it’s time to make a decision, it’s crucial that Brian Schottenheimer gets it right.