The NFL Draft is finally upon us. Before the first round gets underway on April 24, let's recap what the Cowboys have done so far this offseason.
Whether it was re-signing their own players, adding new ones in free agency or making a few trades, the Cowboys were rather active in reshaping the roster under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
So let's take a closer look at what each position currently looks like, continuing with offensive tackles.
What Happened: These past few months haven't seen a lot of movement at the offensive tackle position – and that might be the biggest news of all. There was a lot of speculation regarding Terrance Steele and if the Cowboys might try to release him or reduce his salary, but at the end of the day, it appears the plan with Steele is to coach him up with new voices such as Klayton Adams (offensive coordinator and former Cardinals O-line coach) and Connor Riley (Cowboys O-line coach) to get him back to the level that earned him the contract extension he received two years ago. Steele won't have right guard Zack Martin to lean on anymore but the Cowboys' new blocking schemes that appear to be geared more towards running the ball, would certainly play into Steele's strengths.
Other tackle news included veteran Chuma Edoga signing with the Jaguars in free agency. Edoga started four of the five games he played after missing most of the season with a toe injury. He was supposed to provide depth at the position behind Steele and Tyler Guyton but was needed to start by the end of the year.
What's Up: This position still has some changes to make before they line up for the OTAs, minicamps and of course, training camp in late July. If they had to play right now, it would appear as if Guyton would be the left tackle and Steele on the right side. The Cowboys will continue to work with Asim Richards as a potential candidate to compete. Richards has the ability to play both tackle and guard, which is always useful, especially on game days when the roster is limited.
Other players who could factor into the mix include Matt Waletzo, who is entering his fourth year but has constantly battled through injuries. Earl Bostick is returning from an ACL injury he sustained last year in training camp and Nate Thomas, who has also battled injuries, is working to find his spot and could also move back and forth from guard to tackle.
What's Next: The simple fact the Cowboys could very well draft an offensive tackle at No. 12 overall is all you need to know that this position is far from secured. There will be some options on the table for Dallas when the picks rolls around in the first half. Would they dare draft a tackle two years in a row?
The answer is "probably" especially if they think this offensive tackle would step right in and start immediately. But the tricky part about this particular draft class of tackles, is that some teams are viewing these top prospects as potential guards down the road. We've seen it happen time and time again – even to Zack Martin, one of the best guards in NFL history. He was an offensive tackle at Notre Dame and made the move immediately.
So guys like LSU's Will Campbell, Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr., Missouri's Armand Membou and Ohio State's Josh Simmons are considered some of the top offensive tackles in this draft, but it's unclear which teams, including the Cowboys, have them slated as guards, or maybe players that have the option to do both.
Let's not forget Tyler Smith was also in this same boat, having played tackle at Tulsa and he was supposed to begin his rookie year at guard before Tyron Smith's injury. Tyler Smith went to tackle for his rookie year but has since moved back to guard where he's one of the best in the NFL. Make no mistake, the Cowboys will draft a player who can play tackle, but only time will tell if that player can also be moved to guard.
