Writing is on the wall for Cowboys’ $82.5 million player after latest announcement by Brian Schottenheimer
Brian Schottenheimer announcers position battle ahead of Week 11.
Position battles is something you mostly hear about between May and August. Sometimes, they linger until September. But in the middle of November, it’s a rarity. That is, however, exactly what the Dallas Cowboys are holding at right tackle.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced Thursday that Terence Steele and Nate Thomas would compete for the starting job at right tackle following struggles from the former, via DMN’s Calvin Watkins. In 2023, Steele signed a five-year contract extension worth $82.5 million plus some upside through incentives. Now, he’s competing with Thomas, a second-year player and former seventh-round pick.
Steele and Thomas have both struggled in pass pro
Though Steele is a good and violent run blocker, it’s clear the Cowboys have a pass protecting issue at both tackle spots. At left tackle, however, Tyler Guyton’s upside will buy him some time. The same isn’t true for Steele—whose $18.1 million cap hit in 2026 makes him a cap casualty target next offseason, per Over the Cap.
What is clear is something has to change. Per Pro Football Focus, right tackles were partially responsible for 28.6% of the Cowboys’ allowed pressures. Now granted, Schottenheimer officially opening the door for competition doesn’t mean things will improve.
Nate Thomas has already played at tackle in three games this year and hasn’t necessarily been the clean in pass protection. Though he had a few positive reps against Micah Parsons playing at left tackle back in Week 4, he has allowed eight pressures in only 63 passing snaps. That’s good for a 12.7% pressure rate allowed, much higher than Steele’s 6.6%.
The hope, however, is probably all about Thomas getting better with increased playing time. He has a physical style of play and his play strength makes him clearly belong at the NFL level. But his technique needs to get better, especially his hand usage, which often gets him into trouble as he allows defenders to quickly get close to his chest.
For now, I respect Schottenheimer’s decision to give room to competition. The 2025 season is close to being over for Dallas in terms of playoff hopes. Now is the time for younger players getting reps and developing ahead of 2026.
As for Steele, this might be the last chance he has to guarantee a future in Dallas. In August, owner and general manager Jerry Jones questioned his own decision to extend Steele in 2023. Now the coaching staff is questioning his starting role. With his back against the wall, it’s time to turn things around.
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They should do it.
