Dallas Cowboys star guard, Tyler Smith, has just earned the highest honor among the NFL’s interior offensive linemen for the 2026 season.
ESPN’s latest rankings of the league’s top 10 guards and centers entering the 2026 season placed the former 2022 first-round pick at No. 1, recognizing his rise as one of football’s premier blockers and a key protector of quarterback Dak Prescott.
But while his individual dominance deserves the headlines, his success reflects the strength of the unit around him and sets a standard for the rest of Dallas’ offensive linemen as they look to build one of the NFL’s best front fives in 2026.
Cowboys star Tyler Smith tops ESPN’s rankings entering the 2026 season
The report states that several NFL scouts and executives shared their views on why Smith ranked No. 1 on the list. “Rare combination of size, athleticism, strength and finish,” an AFC exec said. “He’s like prime Jason Peters playing guard.”
The other one said, “He could stand to play under more control and be more technically sound. But his switch from tackle to guard is a factor there.” While another AFC exec also said, “He has more flash plays than anybody.”
If we look at Smith’s stats from the 2025 NFL season, he proves this right. Smith has appeared in 63 regular-season games for the Dallas Cowboys since being selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He has been a durable presence on the offensive line, playing 17 games in 2022, 14 in 2023, and 16 games in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
While offensive linemen are rarely featured in the box score, Smith has recorded one reception during his career, which came in the 2024 season. He has also recovered two fumbles on offense and has contributed three total tackles on special teams and defensive plays over his four NFL seasons.
But how good are the other offensive linemen of the Dallas Cowboys?
The Cowboys’ offensive line is anchored by All-Pro left guard Smith and is projected to feature Tyler Guyton at left tackle, Cooper Beebe at center, rookie Tyler Booker at right guard, and Terrence Steele at right tackle. Veterans T.J. Bass and Chris Glaser provide valuable depth across the line.
To talk about Guyton first, he is projected to start at left tackle. The former first-round pick has played 25 games in two seasons. At Oklahoma, he allowed just two sacks on 548 pass-blocking snaps, but he is still developing at the NFL level after dealing with injuries and inconsistent pass protection.
On the other hand, Beebe is expected to anchor the offensive line at center. He has appeared in 27 regular-season games over two seasons and has become a reliable starter. But Steele is the veteran of the group with 96 regular-season games since joining Dallas in 2020. He provides stability at right tackle and has been a dependable starter.
However, he also has occasionally struggled against elite pass rushers, making him a solid starter rather than one of the league’s top tackles.
So, if Guyton and Beebe continue to develop, the Cowboys have the talent to field one of the NFL’s best offensive lines in 2026, along with Smith.
And in the 2025 NFL season, the Cowboys offense just did the same and posted one of the highest numbers in the offensive units’ rankings. Dallas was ranked second in total offense with 391.9 yards per game and second in passing offense at 266.3 yards per game.
Their running game also finished in the top 10, averaging 125.6 rushing yards per game to rank ninth. Overall, the Cowboys were seventh in scoring offense, averaging 27.7 points per game.
They converted 41.1% of their third downs while ranking 12th, while their 56.9% red zone touchdown rate ranked 18th in the league.
With Tyler Smith leading the offensive line and Tyler Booker joining the unit for 2026, Dallas will look to turn its efficient offense into an even more consistent one in critical situations. Let’s see how the Cowboys will perform in the upcoming season.