2024 Roster Review: Backup Offensive Line – Part 10 of 17. Click here to view all articles in this series.
Perhaps the biggest news connected to the Dallas Cowboys out of last weekend's combine didn't involve any prospects.
With the Cowboys letting left tackle Tyron Smith explore free agency, the door is wide open for at least one of last year's backups to land a starting role. But which one – or more — will it be?
Smith missed four games last year. In all four of those games Tyler Smith started in his place and Chuma Edoga started at guard – Tyler Smith's natural position.
In all likelihood, Tyler Smith will begin the 2024 season as the left tackle in Dallas.
This assumes Tyron Smith isn't re-signed later at a more team-friendly contract, a free agent is signed, or the Cowboys draft a tackle who is ready to start.
Smith's 13-year run in Dallas is certainly Ring of Honor and Hall of Fame worthy. But he hasn't played a full season since 2015 and has missed 36 of 66 games in the last four seasons.
It was time for Dallas to let him go.
And he may not be the only change on the starting offensive line in 2024 either. Center Tyler Biadasz is a free agent too and his replacement is already on the team.
There could be two new faces on that line and here are the candidates from 2023 looking to fill those spots.
Asim Richards
At 6-4, 307-pounds, the rookie out of North Carolina saw action in eight games last year. He had snaps on the offensive line in five of those games when the offense had the ball.
Although its hard to gauge a player on 39 total snaps for an entire season, Richards appeared to acquit himself well.
With a solid camp – and a full season under his belt – he could make a case for the open guard position on the starting line.
Matt Waletzko
At 6-8, 305-pounds, the fifth-round pick out of North Dakota in 2022 is a natural tackle. He would give Dallas the option of leaving Tyler Smith at his natural guard slot.
But is Waletzko good enough to be the man protecting the quarterback's blind side? Who knows?
He hasn't seen the field in a regular season game since the third week of the 2022 season – and even in that game he played one snap when the offense had the ball.
If he is finally going to crack the starting lineup, he'll have to get it done in training camp this year.
Chuma Edoga
Edoga was drafted by the Jets in the third round of the 2019 draft. The Cowboys signed him in free agency last year.
The 6-3, 308-pounder out of USC started in six games last year for Dallas, and the team went 4-2 in those games.
He would seem to be the leading candidate to fill that open guard spot based on last year's performance. But he too is a free agent.
The Cowboys got him at a bargain basement price of just over a million dollars last year.
It will likely cost them a little more to bring him back, assuming another team doesn't walk in with a much better offer.
T.J. Bass
This might be the reason why Dallas would consider letting Edoga walk.
Bass was the undrafted free agent steal of the NFL in 2023. At 6-4 and 325 pounds, the Oregon alum was a beast on the field.
He started two games in 2023 and made some impressive plays for a rookie – and yes, he made his fair share of rookie mistakes too.
But the talent is certainly there, as well as the size.
Brock Hoffman
At 6-4, 302 pounds, Hoffman entered the 2022 NFL Draft after splitting time at Coastal Carolina and Virginia Tech.
He went undrafted and was signed by the Browns, who cut him midway through the 2022 season. Dallas swooped in and signed him.
After a season and a half, he is poised to be the starting center in Dallas this fall.
Like Bass, he started twice in 2023 and saw action when the offense had the ball in six other games. He and Bass also teamed up to open holes for the running game on many occasions.
He is signed for less than $1 million this year and would be a restricted free agent in 2025.
Money aside, he might be the long-term answer at center the Cowboys have sought since Travis Frederick's career came to an early end.
The Starting Five In 2024
Honestly, I would be happy with Tyler Smith at left tackle, Bass at left guard, Hoffman at center, Zack Martin at right guard and Terence Steele at right tackle.
That is a line that should be able to make room for the running backs and protect the quarterback too. We'll see how it plays out between now and early September.
But there are two possible openings on the line this year and there appears to be no shortage of players ready to step up and take them.
