The 2024 calendar is just about ready to flip the page to March and send the NFL deeper into the thick of the offseason.
In Dallas, the Cowboys face many questions due to how their season ended abruptly at home versus the Green Bay Packers.
More questions loom due to 11 key contributors hitting free agency after having their contracts expire.
This article is the third and final of a three-part series examining which positions are most affected by the players who are now free agents.
Parts one and two detailed the cornerbacks and the defensive ends and today we will be analyzing the state of the Cowboys offensive line for 2024.
For reference, here is the list of 11 key contributors the Cowboys currently do not have under contract for the 2024 season:
- LT Tyron Smith (starter)
- RB Tony Pollard (starter)
- CB Stephon Gilmore (starter)
- DE Dorance Armstong (rotational)
- S Jayron Kearse (starter)
- CB Jourdan Lewis (starter)
- DE Dante Fowler (rotational)
- DT Johnathan Hankins (starter)
- LS Trent Sieg (specialist)
- RB Rico Dowdle (rotational)
- C Tyler Biadasz (starter)
Current Outlook
Veterans LT Tyron Smith and C Tyler Biadasz both had their contracts expire at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
There are mixed feelings regarding how to manage this situation, particularly with Tyron.
Smith just completed his 13th season and it was arguably one of the best seasons of his career, ending with an All-Pro 2nd team award.
Dallas finally unlocked the secret to keeping Tyron healthy all season: simply don't have him practice at all.
After all, does a 13-year veteran really need to be wearing his body down and mixing it up with practice squad defensive ends?
It's gonna be a no from me, dawg.
Biadasz never quite turned into Travis Frederick 2.0 like we all hoped he'd be, but he was still a serviceable pivot for the four years he has been in Dallas.
His tenure includes one Pro Bowl bid after the 2022 season, but he has no other accolades to go with it.
Free Agency
When it comes to the left tackle position, I'd be more than happy for Dallas to bring back Tyron on another one-year incentive-laden deal.
It will be another Super Bowl run attempt for him in the twilight of his career, but also is the best move for the Cowboys to make.
However, let's pretend the Cowboys are no longer interested in what Tyron can bring to the table.
If that's the case, free agency won't really be an option at left tackle for Dallas.
Their answer is already in the building and was selected as their first-round pick in the 2022 draft.
Tyler Smith is the most logical option. The All-Pro left guard was literally drafted to be Tyron's replacement, but will Dallas make the move?
I'm not sure they expected Tyler to be a 1st-team All-Pro guard, and that happy coincidence may keep him at left guard for the foreseeable future.
That would mean Dallas would definitely turn to the draft for a left tackle because the current available free agent left tackles list is just four players long, and Tyron sits at the top of it.
As far as center goes, I can see Dallas extending Biadasz for at least another season just to maintain continuity.
Should they decide not to, here is a short list of moderately priced players who could be brought in if the coaches think backup Brock Hoffman isn't up to the task:
- Brian Allen (formerly of the Los Angeles Rams)
- Jon Feliciano (formerly of San Francisco)
- Nick Allegretti (formerly of Kansas City)
- Pat Elfein (formerly of Arizona)
Draft
Like every season, there are a handful of left tackles set to be drafted in the first round.
Left tackle is a premium position, and I'll say it once again, premium positions should be drafted every year for development purposes.
I don't see Dallas drafting a left tackle even if Tyron isn't re-signed.
They will just bump Tyler to left tackle and figure out how to deal with guard, but just for fun here are the top left tackles in the draft who could be on the Cowboys' radar:
- Amarius Mims (Georgia)
- Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma)
- Jordan Morgan (Arizona)
At center, Dallas saw Brock Hoffman play well in Biadasz's absence due to injury, but was it enough to have confidence for an entire season?
I think not, and the Cowboys will probably look to extend Biadasz or find a cheap replacement in free agency.
Should they decide to address the position in the draft, here are a few players they could have their eye on:
- Zach Frazier (West Virginia)
- Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon)
- Graham Barton (Duke)
- Cooper Beebe (Kansas State)
Regardless of how the free agency and draft moves pan out, one thing is for certain: a strong offensive line is key to a deep playoff run.
Fixing what ails the foundation of the offense will be paramount this offseason.
