I am sticking with the hot topic over the last week involving the Cowboys, and that is what the offensive line might look like in 2024.
Over the weekend, we heard legend Tyron Smith won’t resign from the team, and yes, it will sting for a bit, but in all likelihood, Tyler Smith will begin the 2024 season as the left tackle in Dallas.
T.J Bass Time
Now, I understand you aren’t going to replace a Hall Of Famer in one or two seasons.
When Tyron Smith was on the field, he was just that. One of the best to ever wear the star on the line.
Yet, Smith probably won’t be the only change we see on the offensive line next season.
A player I have been high on since the Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2023 is T.J. Bass.
Standing at 6-4, 325 pounds the Oregon Ducks product was an absolute steal for the Cowboys last year.
In his second start near the end of the year in January, Bass had his best game of his career. He looked like he could be a starter in this league for a long time.
He played in all 17 games this year. He finished with 343 offensive snaps – 20 per game – and another 91 on special teams.
Offensive Line Flex
Honestly, if you give me Tyler Smith at left tackle, Bass at left guard, either Brock Hoffman at center mixed in with a rookie or a free agent, I would be fine.
From it looks like right now, Tyler Biadasz could be on his way out also. He was the Cowboys starting center for the last couple of years.
He played okay, but Dallas could probably get his same type of production for much less through the draft or something similar.
We know Zack Martin is will be starting at right guard and most likely Terence Steele at right tackle.
It still blows my mind that Bass was not selected in the 2023 draft.
Oregon and Notre Dame BREED nothing but great offensive lineman.
I will be the first to tell you after watching his tape, I questioned why he didn’t get picked in the first place—a real head-scratcher.
Bass started 34 straight games throughout three seasons for the Ducks. He played over 2,000 snaps and earned first-team all-Pac-12 honors from the coaches in 2021 and 2022.
He logged 894 offensive snaps, 879 at left tackle and seven at left guard. For the other eight, he appeared at tight end.
It only gets better. Bass was the ONLY player to be named Pac-12 offensive lineman of the week multiple times. So again, how and why did Bass go undrafted??
If you are good, you are good, right? How does he not get picked?
Expect to see a lot of Bass in 2024. He is going to have his change to either show he belongs or not.
I truly believe he is going to be great for a really long time.
More Work Is Needed
The offensive line is going to be a need, but that isn’t the only problem the Cowboys need to work on.
The roster is going to win them another 10-12 games, but what will they do come playoff time.
Dak Prescott is likely to sign a new deal, and I am still on the fence about that, but you can’t tell me that you can replace him and be better.
Look around at the quarterback play the last two years, it has been bad.
The run defense should be better under Mike Zimmer, but they still need to add some sign on that defensive line. Mazi Smith has been a bust, and I don’t expect any type of jump from him in 2024.