FRISCO — The conversation between Brian Schottenheimer and Tyler Smith about a position change went well.
Schottenheimer said Smith will remain the Cowboys’ starting left guard. But if injuries or ineffective play happen during the course of a season, Smith could be asked to switch to left tackle.
That was the case in the final three games of the 2025 season when Smith moved to left tackle as Tyler Guyton dealt with a sprained ankle that eventually placed him on injured reserve. Nate Thomas started in place of Guyton, but struggled at times before suffering a shoulder injury against Minnesota on Dec. 14.
Schottenheimer and Smith spoke during exit interviews about his playing status going forward.
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“But he just wanted some direction and I said right now you’re a guard,” Schottenheimer said Wednesday. “At the end of the day, we’re going to do what’s best for the Dallas Cowboys (in) winning a Super Bowl and that’s just like we did the last three games. If we got to move you to tackle we will and what I love about Tyler we were able to have that conversation and he said it makes perfect sense and I understand.”
Smith was drafted in 2022 as a guard with the possibility of moving to tackle. He’s played full-time at guard, getting named to the Pro Bowl the last three seasons. In September, Smith signed the highest-paid deal for a player at his position, a four-year, $96 million deal with $81.2 million guaranteed.
“That’s why he’s a core piece going forward and why we wanted to sign him,” co-owner Stephen Jones said. “And versatility is huge when you can have a player that can be the best guard in the league and can also swing out there and play at an all-pro caliber level at tackle. We had that in Larry Allen and I think he actually did it.”
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