“Yeah, it [the conversation] was great. Actually, Tyler and I just had it,” Schottenheimer said. “I was explaining to him, ‘Hey, we feel that you’re an incredible all-decade type guard, but at the end of the day, you’re such a good player that we have to play the five best guys.’ In no way, shape, or form do I think we can’t with a full year of Nate Thomas and those guys, getting those guys going.
“But Smith wants some direction, I said, ‘Right now, you’re a guard,’ but at the end of the day, we’re going to do what’s best for the Dallas Cowboys, winning a Super Bowl,” Schottenheimer added. “Just like we did last three games, if we have to move you to tackle, we will. What I love about that is Tyler and I were able to have that conversation, and he’s like, ‘Makes perfect sense, I understand.’”
Smith’s versatility is impressive and he’s still extremely young, meaning he should be a key cog for years to come.
“By the way, that’s why he’s a core piece going forward and why we wanted to sign him,” Stephen Jones added. “I mean, versatility is huge when you can have a player that can be the best guard in the league and also swing out there and play to a Pro Bowl caliber level at tackle.”