Cowboys may have already settled crucial left tackle competition originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Dallas Cowboys continue to sort through their offensive line depth chart, but the latest minicamp practice offered another sign that Tyler Guyton remains firmly positioned as the favorite at left tackle.
According to Joseph Hoyt, Guyton worked with the first-team offense at left tackle during Tuesday’s practice. While attention has largely centered on whether Nate Thomas could challenge for snaps on the left side, the practice alignment suggested Dallas is looking elsewhere for immediate depth behind Guyton.
Hoyt noted that rookie Drew Shelton handled second-team duties at left tackle, while Thomas lined up at right tackle with the second unit.
“We’ve focused on Tyler Guyton vs. Nate Thomas at LT, but Thomas played RT with the second team today. Who was the second team LT behind Guyton? Rookie Drew Shelton,” Hoyt reported.
The practice setup does not officially end any competition, but it provides a snapshot of how the Cowboys currently view the position. If Thomas were pushing Guyton closely for the starting job, a larger share of second-team work at left tackle would be expected. Instead, Dallas used him on the opposite side while Shelton worked directly behind the projected starter.
That arrangement reinforces Guyton’s standing entering training camp.
The former first-round pick has faced increased scrutiny after an uneven start to his NFL career. Expectations were high when Dallas invested significant draft capital in him, and the organization has continued to express confidence in his long-term potential despite inconsistent results.
Those circumstances make the current alignment notable. Teams generally give former first-round selections every opportunity to develop, particularly at premium positions such as left tackle. Guyton’s continued presence with the starters suggests the Cowboys remain committed to giving him that opportunity.
Training camp will provide a more complete picture of the competition, but the latest practice offered little evidence of a changing pecking order. Based on Tuesday’s reps, Guyton remains the clear leader at left tackle while the Cowboys continue evaluating the players behind him.
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