When the Dallas Cowboys entered the 2025 season, many analysts were skeptical about the state of their offensive line.
With future Hall of Famer Zack Martin retiring, second-year left tackle Tyler Guyton still developing, and rookie right guard Tyler Booker thrust into the starting lineup, most assumed this would be an average unit at best.
Add in Cooper Beebe beginning his first full season as the starting center, and the group was widely viewed as a middle-of-the-pack offensive line.
But just one week into the season, the Cowboys’ front five is showing they might be much better than advertised.
Sackless
In Thursday night’s rivalry clash with the Philadelphia Eagles, the offensive line delivered a statement performance.
Facing one of the league’s most feared pass rushes, albeit without Jalen Carter, the Cowboys did not allow a single sack.
Dak Prescott had clean pockets throughout the night, giving him time to spread the ball around to his playmakers.
This wasn’t a fluke. Guyton held his own against speed rushers off the edge, Booker showed surprising composure in his NFL debut, and Beebe looked comfortable making protection calls at the line of scrimmage.
The unit played with balance, avoiding mental lapses and costly penalties that often plague young lines.
For a group many expected to be a weakness, their ability to completely neutralize Philadelphia’s front was perhaps the biggest surprise of the game.
Opening Running Lanes
Just as impressive was their work in the run game.
Last season, the Cowboys often struggled to create consistent running lanes, leaving Rico Dowdle and others bottled up at the line of scrimmage. On Thursday, that script flipped.
The offensive line consistently opened holes between the tackles, allowing Dallas backs to hit the second level with momentum.
Booker showed flashes of the physical, road-grading style that made him a standout at Alabama, while Beebe and Tyler Smith combined to push defenders off the ball.
Even Guyton, once criticized for being a better pass blocker than run blocker, displayed improved power at the point of attack.
The result was a balanced offensive attack that kept Philadelphia guessing and extended drives with crucial rushing yards.
Coaching Matters
The Cowboys’ turnaround up front isn’t just about talent: it’s also about coaching.
New OC Klayton Adams, who previously worked as the offensive line coach for the Arizona Cardinals, has brought a sharper edge to the unit. Adams emphasizes discipline, footwork, and aggressiveness, all of which were on display against the Eagles.
Credit also goes to current offensive line coach Conor Riley, who has been instrumental in developing Guyton, Beebe, and now Booker.
Riley has built trust within the group, encouraging competition while instilling confidence in his young players.
The combination of Adams’ system and Riley’s direct coaching has elevated the line faster than many expected.
Looking Ahead
As impressive as Thursday’s performance was, the most exciting part for Dallas is that this line should only improve as the season goes on.
With Guyton and Booker gaining valuable experience each week, and Beebe continuing to settle into his role as a full-time center, the ceiling is high.
Of course, health will be the key.
Offensive lines thrive on continuity, and if the Cowboys can keep this unit intact, it could evolve from a perceived liability into one of the team’s greatest strengths.
For now, one thing is clear: the Cowboys’ offensive line isn’t just surviving. It’s thriving, and it might be the foundation of a deep playoff run.
This O-line was underrated this pre-season. Steele quietly played a good game and continued to improve like he did his last several games last year. Guyton already looks better than he did all of last year and he did it against a solid D line. With Booker making a solid debut, this O-line looks to be top 5. Still early, but not unrealistic.
I agree…. And I wanted to point out that I disagreed with those analysts from the beginning!! I knew we would have a good offensive line!! I’ll admit that I didn’t think it was gonna be as good as it was Thursday, but I did know they were gonna be good!! I wasn’t concerned about Beebe or Smith at all, we all know how good Smith is and Beebe played really good as a rookie while playing a new position, so I knew he would be even better this year, and Guyton was getting lessons from Tyron Smith this offseason, so I knew he was gonna make a big leap after learning from one of the best to ever play the position, and I knew Booker would come in and be the player he was expected to be!! This front office don’t miss on offensive linemen when they draft them that early in the draft!! The only persons I was worried about was Steele!! He has been bad since he came back from that injury a couple years ago!! He did start getting better towards the end of last season, but I wasn’t sure if he could keep it going this season, and that’s why I didn’t think this line would be as good as it was Thursday, but it looks like Steele has gotten back to his pre injury self, so I feel even better about this offensive line now than I did before the season started!!