The Dallas Cowboys offensive line will look significantly different in 2024, and we have no choice but to try and trust a guy like Brock Hoffman, who means the center position.
They will probably draft someone, but it should be in a different round. That should be a tackle.
Brock Hoffman was undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft.
He signed with the Cleveland Browns following the draft but ended up on the practice squad during the season.
He was released midway through his first season and has been on the Cowboys roster ever since.
Of the Cowboys' departures in free agency, Tyron Smith's is the one that hurts the most because of what they don't have on the roster. At least a case can be made for Brock Hoffman/Tyler Bass at center. Sam Williams, former second round pick, for Dorance Armstrong at DE.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) March 16, 2024
Inside Track
Tyler Biadasz, like half of the Cowboys team, left to follow Dan Quinn and sign in Washington.
They are throwing money around left and right and will still finish at the bottom of the NFC East.
Hoffman had his only start last season against the Arizona Cardinals, a game they lost.
It was a game they should have had no business losing.
“It's on my mind every day right now, to be honest with you,” Hoffman said about the open starting spot.
“I'm training like I'm ready to be that guy. I'm humbled. I've done everything that I've had to do. I've faced adversity, such as being cut off from the practice squad. I feel like that's all led to this moment, and I'm ready to do what I need to do to help this team win a championship.”
If the Cowboys had to play a game next week, their starting offensive line:
RT: Terence Steele
RG: Zack Martin
C: Brock Hoffman
LG: T.J. Bass
LT: Tyler Smith— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 16, 2024
Here we go again with the Championship talk.
Look, I am all for a guy with a lot of confidence in himself, but Hoffman was undrafted for a reason; if he gets the job but the team drafts a rookie, he could lose his spot by midseason.
Possible Rookies
If the Cowboys take a center with the first pick in the first round, it will be Jackson Powers-Johnson from Oregon.
Another Duck great who can be huge for the Cowboys is T.J. Bass, who was undrafted for Oregon and will probably get a lot of time this season.
Powers-Johnson is a heavy center, a firm-run blocker with reliable pass protection.
Another name to keep an eye on that could take in the later rounds is Zach Frazier from West Virginia.
What I like about him is he can also play guard.
So you can get two for the price of one.
#Cowboys Unpopular Starting OL 2024 Take:
LT: Asim Richards
LG: Tyler Smith
C: Brock Hoffman
RG: Zack Martin
RT: Terence Steele— Law Nation Sports (@LawsNation) March 20, 2024
He is a good blocker and started at guard his first year before moving to center as a sophomore.
He did not allow a single sack as a freshman and only allowed one as a center. That is tough to do.
I wouldn't mind the Cowboys taking a chance on his guy and using him for depth.
They will need all the bodies they can get on the offensive line in 2024.
Nothing Will Change
Regardless of what the Cowboys do in the draft, they will end up in the same spot next season until Jerry Jones goes “all-in,” like the lie he told a few months ago.
He cares more about what he says to the media than his players do on the field.
That is good enough for him as long as they make the playoffs again.
So maybe it would be better if they have a down year, and then the Cowboys won't get talked about as much, and then maybe he will try to put together another roster that can win a title instead of thinking five great players can get it done.
I am tired of looking at draft coverage every year, I want to be able to talk about the Cowboys signing big-time free agents.
Jerry Jones just does not do things that way and it sucks.
