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Dallas Cowboys’ offensive lineman Tyler Smith went from a questionable first spherical decide to one of many league’s high rookies in 2023.
DALLAS — There was trepidation concerning the Dallas Cowboys’ 2022 first-round decide, however Tyler Smith could have helped win the argument early.
The Pro Football Writers of America introduced their annual all-rookie team on Tuesday and there was a spot for the Cowboys’ versatile offensive lineman from Tulsa. Initially drafted to play left guard, Smith was kicked out to left sort out when All-Pro Tyron Smith suffered a hamstring tear late throughout coaching camp. Dallas did not look again because the youthful Smith began all 17 video games with most coming at left sort out.
When the elder Smith did return in Week 15, the Cowboys moved the veteran to proper sort out to exchange an injured Terence Steele fairly than intrude with any of the progress the previous North Crowley High School product was making at left sort out.
“It was huge for me,” Smith stated on Jan. 17. “It just showed how much trust they had in me as a player for the organization. It meant a lot. Just definitely trying to pay it forward in my preparation. That’s an honor. Nothing’s guaranteed at this level. For them to trust me with something like that, it’s huge for me.”
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones instructed “GBag Nation” on 105.3 “The Fan” [KRLD-FM] Jan. 20 he thought Smith’s versatility was being neglected all through the Cowboys’ 12-5 season.
“I do think Tyler has been a little underrated,” stated Smith. “I mean, he’s a rookie. Had all minicamp, all training camp playing guard, playing left guard, and then Tyron [Smith] goes down and he immediately goes back to what he did in college and goes and plays left tackle, and then he swings back and forth when we need him. What more can you ask for out of a rookie? His versatility has been so valuable to us being able to move him around, starting with Tyron, letting him play his natural spot to start the training camp off there. And, then, of course moving out to left tackle and letting us get our best five with Connor [McGovern] out there. And, then, of course, when we felt like it was better to have [Jason] Peters at tackle, he moved right back in there at [left] guard. When Peters got hurt, he’s back out at left tackle. His confidence is there. He obviously is only going to keep getting better as a young football player, take his arrow straight up.”
As the Cowboys look to one other offseason to work out how to put collectively a team that qualifies for its first NFC Championship Game since 1996, Smith is a chunk within the offensive line that they might have the ability to construct round.
Said Jones: “We actually suppose we obtained us a, you already know, a Hell of a — I’ll name him an ‘offensive lineman’ now, however I do suppose in the end he’s our left sort out for the longer term in Tyler Smith.”
The Cowboys are not any stranger to seeing their high picks earn accolades in recent times. Dallas’ 2021 first-rounder, linebacker Micah Parsons, was a pure for the PFWA all-rookie team, and even took house the PFWA’s Rookie of the Year honors.
What have been your impressions of rookie Tyler Smith in his debut season with the Cowboys? Share your ideas with Mark on Twitter @therealmarklane.
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