The Dallas Cowboys selected offensive tackle Tyler Guyton with the No. 29 pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft after trading out of the 24th spot with the Detroit Lions. The Cowboys added a third-round pick (No. 73) while sending a 2025 seventh-rounder to the Lions.
The son of a former college basketball player, Guyton was a youth quarterback who primarily played basketball until joining the football team midway through his high school career. The 6-foot-7, 322-pound Guyton did not play offensive line in high school, playing defense instead.
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Guyton eventually signed with TCU and transitioned to tight end before transferring to Oklahoma and moving to the offensive line. Guyton started five games (one at left tackle) in 2022 before starting nine for the Sooners last year. His burst, speed and ability at his size are — along with his frame — elite.
Much like Amarius Mims, Guyton is very low on experience. Just 14 games as a starting tackle in college and, really, only two years as a full-time offensive lineman. A natural athlete with elite bend, Guyton has a chance to be great. Nothing about his game, however, is consistent right now.
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‘The Beast’ breakdown
Guyton ranked No. 24 in Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:
“Overall, Guyton is a work in progress in several areas and a steep learning curve should be expected for his rookie season, but he has the athletic tools and fundamental skills to develop into a high-level offensive tackle. He has the talent to play left or right tackle, although his comfort level is clearly on the right side. As long as he stays motivated and healthy, he will continue on an upward trajectory.”
Coaching intel
What an anonymous coach had to say about Guyton in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft:
“He still needs to get stronger and he tends to play too high, but he can do some things out there that are pretty special, given how big he is. He is so smooth and he isn’t on the ground much.”
Why he’s a first-round pick
At 6-7, 322 pounds, Guyton has the size that teams covet at tackle. He’s played mostly at right tackle, but could move to the left side. He might have a steep learning curve as a rookie, but his ceiling is high and he could become a long-term fixture for a team at either tackle position.
A lot of NFL eyes on Tyler Guyton every time he takes a rep. pic.twitter.com/28qe8jgMHb
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 30, 2024
Scott Dochterman grades the pick
Dallas had a big hole at two spots — center and right tackle — and the Cowboys opted to fill the hole on the outside with Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton. It’s an upside move with Guyton, who could start at right tackle and perhaps flip to left tackle within time. Or, if he reaches his potential, he could form a solid tandem with Tyler Smith.
Still raw and developing, Guyton earned 15 career starts at TCU and Oklahoma before declaring for the draft. He started 13 games at right tackle and one at left tackle for the Sooners, while opening one game at tight end for TCU. Guyton (6-7 ½, 322) has the requisite body for an NFL tackle with 34 1/8-inch arms. It might take him some time, but his upside is immense. Grade: B
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How he fits
Guyton’s fit is obvious, as he’ll be expected to replace Tyron Smith as the team’s starting left tackle. If everything progress as the Cowboys hope, the left side of the offensive line is now solidified, with Tyler Smith at left guard and Guyton at tackle. There will be a transition for Guyton, as he primarily played right tackle in college, but the Cowboys are willing to work with the switch to the other side. It’s a move they made over a decade ago, when they drafted Tyron Smith, a right tackle out of USC. — Saad Yousuf
Rookie impact
Guyton’s impact is two-fold. He allows the team to keep Tyler Smith at left guard, which was a priority for the team. Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones said publicly on multiple occasions that they felt they had a “Larry Allen” type of talent at left guard in Smith and even though Smith showed the ability as a rookie to play on the edge, playing inside was the preference. The tangibles are intriguing with Guyton, who has the physical makeup and the tools to be a pillar on the left side for a long time, but the Cowboys will have to be patient. Guyton only started 15 games and when he was switched over to left tackle in the Senior Bowl, he had his fair share of struggles. — Yousuf
Depth chart impact
Guyton will come in and immediately compete for the starting left tackle position that opened up when Tyron Smith signed with the New York Jets. The Cowboys desperately needed offensive line help. This pick allows Tyler Smith to stay at left guard, which is viewed as his best overall spot. Guyton will likely have competition from Matt Waletzko, Asim Richards and Josh Ball, but the first-round pick is the clear favorite to win the job. — Jon Machota
They also could have picked …
Guyton was the favorite among this remaining group entering the draft, but the other notable players still available were Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson, BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia and West Virginia center Zach Frazier. Guyton could’ve easily been the Cowboys’ pick if they stayed at 24. However, Duke guard/center Graham Barton was probably the favorite had they not traded back with Detroit. He ended up going 26th to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.— Machota
Fast evaluation
It’s a good pick for a team that needed offensive line help more than anything else. As long as Guyton proves he can be the team’s starting left tackle and Tyler Smith can stay at left guard, it’s a win for the Cowboys. And the fact that they were able to gain an extra third-round pick in the process, this move overall shouldn’t be graded any lower than a B. — Machota
(Top photo by James Black / Getty Images)