Cowboys fans would make for a better GM than Jerry Jones.
Dallas Cowboys v Carolina Panthers | Grant Halverson/GettyImages
The 2024 offseason was one to forget for the Dallas Cowboys. It is objectively one of the worst offseasons in recent memory.
It’s one thing to allow a plethora of impact players to walk out out the door, but Jerry and Stephen Jones did nothing to offset those losses.
In addition, the Joneses failed to sign a quality nose tackle, ignored the running back position and banked on Dallas’ young receivers to make a leap when there had been zero evidence to suggest they were prepared to do so. Mike McCarthy was really dealt a brutal hand in the final year of his contract.
As far as the NFL Draft is concerned, it has been a tough rookie season for first-round pick Tyler Guyton. The No. 29 overall pick, Guyton has been reduced to a part-time player over the last handful of games, splitting time at left tackle with veteran Chuma Edoga.
Cowboys fans were very vocal in the offseason about inserting two rookies into the offensive line and how that might impact the offense. Was it a necessary change? Probably, but Jerry Jones didn’t have a backup plan ready in case Guyton hit a rookie wall.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones admits starting two rookie offensive linemen was a gamble
Appearing on 105.3 The Fan on Friday, Jones conceded it was shortsighted to think the offensive line wouldn’t skip a beat plugging in Guyton at left tackle and third-round pick Cooper Beebe at center to replace Tyler Biadasz.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on @1053thefan when talking about rookie offensive linemen Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe, said he “probably got a little out over my skis, thinking just plug those guys in.”
Guyton was drafted to replace LT Tyron Smith. Beebe replaced center Tyler…
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 27, 2024
Beebe has come along nicely at center, a position he hadn’t played at any level, including college, before this season.
In the first six weeks, Beebe posted a middling 56.4 PFF grade. Over the last nine weeks, the Kansas State product has accumulated a rock-solid 71.6 PFF grade. He’s only allowed three sacks, 15 pressures and five quarterback hits on the season.
Still, continuity is the most important variable for an offensive line and the Cowboys lost their longtime starting LT and center. Tyron Smith admittedly underwhelmed with the Jets so Dallas didn’t totally botch the position.
However, there is a reason the fan base urged the front office to sign a Mekhi Becton, Trent Brown, Cornelius Lucas or Andrus Peat as a potential stopgap.
Guyton played just one snap at left tackle in his final year at Oklahoma compared to 661 at right tackle. In three years at Oklahoma and TCU, Guyton played just 26 games and a combined 1,091 offensive snaps. Only 70 of those snaps were at left tackle. His rookie year was always going to be a rollercoaster.
Even with Guyton being in and out of the lineup, the offensive line has really come on strong over the last two months. Much like the defense in Mike Zimmer’s scheme, the continuity is finally paying off.
With that said, the unit was a real hindrance to the offense in the first half of the year. Guyton in particular wrecked countless promising drives with pre-snap penalties.
It is maddening – if not unsurprising – that Jones did not see that coming even though it was obvious to the naked eye.
