FRISCO — Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday that left tackle Tyler Guyton will compete for the starting job with Nate Thomas.
Guyton, who started 10 games last season, is a 2024 first-round pick from Oklahoma that’s battle health and consistency issues.
When Guyton suffered a knee injury in training camp last year, Thomas was a surprise pick to get snaps with the first-team offense.
Now after an uneven 2025 season for Guyton, the Cowboys are still determining the starter at his position.
“Tyler understands the importance of this year,” Schottenheimer said before Thursday’s OTA practice at The Star. “Why? Because it’s the next year. We’re going to make Tyler earn it. Tyler and Nate Thomas right now are competing to start at left tackle. Why? Because we think that’s going to get the best out of Tyler Guyton and the best out of Nate Thomas.”
Guyton primarily played right tackle in college until the Cowboys drafted him and asked him to change positions. He has looked fantastic at times, but the Cowboys want to see more from the Manor, Texas, native.
Cowboys’ officials flirted with the idea of moving left guard Tyler Smith to left tackle. Smith has spoken to Schottenheimer about the potential move, but it’s been tabled to see if either Guyton or Thomas can emerge as a starter.
“Tyler’s biggest thing is the consistency has not been there,” Schottenheimer said of Guyton. “Very talented, maybe one of the most athletic big men I’ve ever been around with his ability to kick-slide, punch, move [and] run. But there’s got to be more consistency. That’s been the challenge, he’s been working extremely, extremely hard on.”