OXNARD, Calif. — Tyler Guyton is holding true to his word given not long after he became the Dallas Cowboys' first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The rookie offensive lineman out of Oklahoma by way of TCU made a vow he'd dedicate his time off in his first summer as a professional to preparing for NFL expectations, and he's done exactly that.
Following his third day of practice, one that saw him taking reps with the first team and All-Pro quarterback Dak Prescott, Guyton detailed his summer and, sure enough, it was all work with offensive line guru Duke Manyweather of OL Masterminds.
"Every day. Every day," said Guyton. "I didn't take a trip. I didn't go on vacation. I stayed and worked with Duke every single day.
"For one, I got stronger. I toned up my body and also refined my technique within my set and my balance."
It's already beginning to show in his movements at left tackle, and it's also helping him to become that much more comfortable with the role as well as the expectations of head coach and offensive playcaller Mike McCarthy.
"It's coming along good," Guyton said. "I feel like I'm understanding the offense a lot more. I'm getting my feet wet. … Understanding the speed of the game, it's a little bit different. I'm getting adjusted to that. It comes with preparation, repetition as well, and studying on my own time helps me."
Another part of his acclimation process is staying close to perennial All-Pro and future first ballot Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin — who also happens to be his locker neighbor (by Cowboys' design) — the two having formed a fast friendship that permeates into mentor-mentee status.
"I think the biggest thing is the routine," said Guyton of the biggest thing he's already began to learn from Martin. "With how great [he is] and even though he's a 10-year guy, he's still doing things like he's a first-year guy — taking every day like it's his last."
It's easy, and often expected, for NFL rookies to walk into their first-ever training camp with wide eyes and butterflies in the belly, but it doesn't feel that's the case with Guyton at all. He's already carrying himself like a seasoned veteran in all the ways, and that will serve him greatly as he grinds toward potentially getting the nod as the starting left tackle in Week 1.
He doesn't have a list of individual goals he wants to achieve this summer in Oxnard or in the preseason.
Guyton has one, and one only.
"Honestly, I had one goal, and that's to leave it all out there," he said. "To give it everything I've got and to not have any regrets when I'm done."
Enough said.
