Mailbag: Why pick O-line in first round?

(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

Maybe the best Cowboys offensive line ever consisted of an undrafted former defensive tackle at left tackle (Mark Tuinei), an undrafted USFL player at left guard (Nate Newton) , a third-round round center (Mark Stepnoski), an eighth rounder at right guard (John Gesek) and another third-round player at right tackle (Erik Williams). So why does it seem like everyone believes that the offensive line needs to be a bunch of first-round picks? Has the game changed that much? – Tim Shumate/Fullerton, CA

Nick: The game has not changed that much. The scouting and evaluation of players has certainly changed over the years. I don't think you're finding the late-round steals like you did before. The process is different now where everyone seems to have a much better read on the players. Sure, there are some that fall through the cracks still. The Cowboys have a right tackle in Terence Steele that went undrafted.

But I think the thought process is if you want a game-changing player - at any position - you probably need to get him early. That's why the Cowboys and other teams are looking at lineman early on. Think about Tyler Smith, he's someone who could be a fixture for 10 years or so. Obviously, that's the hope for Tyler Guyton but we'll see.

The Cowboys probably held onto that theory about not drafting lineman early on for too long. In 2011, they finally got Tyron Smith and then added Travis Frederick and Zack Martin in the next three years. That alone carried the team for nearly a decade. So I'm not one opposed to taking lineman early on, especially if they can be versatile with position flex.

Patrik: I'm always of the mindset that you win games in the trenches and that means you build from the inside and work your way outward, on both sides of the ball. But with Tyler Guyton locked in as starting left tackle, Tyler Smith effectively taking the OL crown with the retirement of Zack Martin, Terence Steele looking back to form during the back half of last season, Cooper Beebe's ceiling being somewhere on the moon and Brock Hoffman, at minimum, providing you a solid starter at either right guard or center, I don't believe the Cowboys are pressed to grab an offensive lineman in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Is it possible? Sure, if they feel they'd want to upgrade over Hoffman but, with the current No. 12 pick, and primo receivers, defensive ends and (ahem) running backs staring them in the face, I find it hard to believe they'd forego on a BPA (which would arguably not be an OL) with that pick that also fills a position of massive need (e.g., DE/WR/RB). Of course, stranger things have happened. I just can't see it through my eyes.