Say all you need about Jerry Jones’ lack of ability to maintain the expertise he has – and we’ve all performed greater than sufficient of that within the instances of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons – however we now have to offer a proverbial tip of the 10-gallon hat to Dallas’ personnel folks, led by rockstar VP of Participant Personnel Will McClay, for his or her skill to determine and maximize prospect expertise within the draft.
Lamb and Parsons had been every first-round picks in 2020 and 2021, respectively, and it wasn’t robust to see that every of them had what it took to be among the many greatest gamers at their positions. However McClay and his crew have additionally stolen future stars like Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, and Osa Odighizuwa outdoors of the primary spherical.
The 2024 Cowboys draft appears to have representatives from every of the 2 teams – the plain first-round expertise in Oklahoma offensive deal with Tyler Guyton, and the extra hidden future star in Kansas State offensive lineman Cooper Beebe.
Dallas received Guyton with the twenty ninth total choose within the first spherical, circled again for Western Michigan defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland (one other man who’s already trying like a professional on the sphere) with the 56th total choose within the second spherical, after which chosen Beebe with the 73rd total choose within the third spherical.
None of that is uncommon, per se – all good personnel departments are good partially as a result of they’re in a position to spot later-round expertise. However within the instances of Guyton and Beebe, their early success is attention-grabbing, as a result of they’re excelling at positions they didn’t actually play in school.
Tyler Guyton is already an alpha left deal with.
In two seasons with TCU and two extra with the Sooners, per Professional Soccer Focus, Guyton lined up 1,011 instances at proper deal with, and simply 74 instances on the left facet. However the Cowboys noticed him as a blindside protector instantly. And Guyton didn’t disagree.
“Simply refining my approach, repetition again and again,” Guyton stated of the change quickly after he was drafted. “Engaged on it a lot which you could’t get it mistaken. It’s simply switching your footwork, your fingers and your approach, and in addition becoming the performs within the run.
“I’ve been taking part in left deal with since I’ve gotten into school. I truly really feel like I’m higher at left deal with and I’m extra comfy over there anyway. The change needs to be fairly straightforward.”
With solely 14 collegiate begins – he barely performed at TCU – maybe Guyton has needed to unlearn fewer issues than he would possibly with extra in-game expertise. Regardless of the purpose, let’s simply say that the transition has been greater than seamless. Guyton has been dominant towards among the NFL’s higher quarterback demolition specialists.
In my scouting report of Guyton, I made the crushingly apparent level that he had all of the attributes to play left deal with…
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
PLUSES
— Athletic mover with a very nice kick-step and switch across the arc. He has left deal with toes if you would like him there.
— Understands stunts and video games and can regulate his physique on the fly to choose up the second defender.
— Retains his toes… pic.twitter.com/D5ey4AgIkY
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 4, 2024
…however I didn’t anticipate the type of bodily dominance he’s proven within the NFL to date. It seems that Guyton has taken a while with “Journey the Lightning” on his AirPods, and he’s taking part in accordingly. With 7:23 left within the first half of Dallas’ sport in Week 2 of the preseason towards the Las Vegas Raiders, Guyton took defensive finish Janarius Robinson proper out of the body in an enormous hurry. This was a severe two-piece.
me on tyler guyton pre-draft: “If he performed with about 10% extra Metallica, he would possibly climb into OT 1/2 territory.”
tyler guyton: SO LET IT BE WRITTEN, SO LET IT BE DONE, I’M CREEPING DEATH pic.twitter.com/6uKokwoWkY
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) August 19, 2024
Maxx Crosby is clearly a harder out, and although Guyton didn’t face off with Crosby that usually, there was sufficient for Guyton to earn the Crosby Seal of Approval.
So, sure – Tyler Guyton has the NFL’s consideration at his new place. And he’s simply getting began.
Cooper Beebe lastly discovered the appropriate spot.
Beebe’s school tape was a little bit of a harder watch – whereas I favored his energy in a telephone sales space, I had some considerations about his skill to remain in part on the transfer. And his measurables – a second-percentile arm size of 31½”, a seventh-percentile hand measurement of 9¼”, and a Twentieth-percentile top of 6’ 3¼” amongst all offensive linemen within the draft since 1999 would clearly point out a transfer inside for good.
In school, Beebe had 1,847 snaps at left guard, 778 at left deal with, 476 at proper deal with, and 25 at proper guard. The one place he didn’t play in any respect at Kansas State is the one he’s taking part in now. Within the NFL. At a very excessive stage.
McClay has stated that Beebe “likes to grime folks,” and you may see what which means right here.
However what was the reasoning behind Beebe’s completely new place? In accordance with Cowboys offensive line coach Mike Solari, it was all about Beebe’s mixture of athleticism and intelligence.
“He’s working at heart proper now,” Solari stated again in Could. “He has the flexibleness and flexibility, however we wish him to give attention to the middle place. Nice job by our draft division. You see his preliminary quickness and his skill to maintain the blocks, and the kind of competitor he’s. He’s a sensible soccer participant and he’s one other man that has versatility, however we wish him to lock into the middle spot.”
Up to now, he’s locked in all the best way. By means of two preseason video games, Guyton and Beebe have given up just some quarterback hurries – one for Guyton and two for Beebe – with no sacks or quarterback hits allowed. And each have proven greater than sufficient grit to intensify their athletic potential.
Because it stands now, the Cowboys may have a beginning 5 within the common season of Guyton at left deal with, Tyler Smith at left guard, Beebe at heart, future Corridor of Famer Zach Martin at proper guard, and Terence Steele at proper deal with. The one actual query mark in that group is Steele, who allowed eight sacks and 56 complete pressures in his fourth NFL season.
However in deciding on Guyton and Beebe, the Cowboys have as soon as once more confirmed that it doesn’t matter what participant retention and wage cap points could bedevil them, they’re proper up available on the market with regards to creating the absolute best environments for these younger gamers who’re simply discovering their toes within the NFL.
