Dallas City News

There are very few certainties in the world of the National Football League, but first-round picks getting on the field is most definitely one of them. In the case of the Cowboys’ latest first-round pick, Tyler Guyton, who has the monumental task of replacing future Hall of Fame left tackle Tyron Smith, the path for the Oklahoma prospect to start right away has been evident since draft night. It is already manifesting itself in Oxnard with the rookie getting plenty of work with the starting offense in Sunday’s practice.

The Cowboys are hardly the only team to play veterans or any other players with even minimal experience ahead of rookies at the start of training camp, as silly as it may be depending on the situation at any position. After all, every rep is earned in this league, and Guyton is earning them already by taking it upon himself to train in Dallas immediately following being drafted 29th overall. Guyton was in the lab with a familiar name for Cowboys fans that have seen his work with other linemen over the years, Duke Manyweather. By getting a jump start on making the switch from collegiate right tackle to projected day one starter on the left side for the Cowboys, the team already feels comfortable playing Guyton here – at least at this walkthrough pace as full pads have yet to come on.

There are a ton of things to look forward to when the Cowboys are finally practicing in pads, like how the front seven on defense can start to have their say in support of a secondary that’s carried on business as usual under Mike Zimmer and made plays on the ball in passing drills. Whether or not any running back out of the Cowboys’ current stable can establish themselves as this team’s best option is another question that can’t be answered until the physicality of these practices increases. With Guyton, fellow rookie Cooper Beebe, and Terence Steele also being some of the top players to watch once pads come on, it’s encouraging to see Guyton continue to get as much work as he can leading up to the challenges he’ll face going against live pass rushers like Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Marshawn Kneeland, and in only two week’s time, whoever the L.A. Rams may throw at him as the Cowboys stay in California to open the preseason August 11th.