3 Cowboys who could lose starting job to a rookie in 2022
By Jerry Trotta
The Dallas Cowboys love building through the draft. It’s that philosophy that’s seen them be so reluctant to spend big in free agency over the years. More often than not, they’re used as leverage by in-demand players to get a bigger contract. In trade scenarios, they’re linked with players so as to boost their trade value.
It’s a tradition like no other.
Of course, the Cowboys would be more willing to splurge in free agency if they didn’t back themselves into handing out awful contracts to … homegrown players, with Ezekiel Elliott’s $90 million deal being a prime example.
Thanks to those miscues, there are several roles on the roster that are far from settled with OTAs getting underway this week. In other words, Dallas’ 2022 draft class should be given every chance to prove they’re worthy of a starting role.
That could spell trouble for some projected starters, so let’s highlight some Cowboys who are in danger of losing their starting jobs to a rookie.
These 3 Cowboys could lose their starting job to a rookie
3. Connor McGovern
The minute Connor Williams signed with the Dolphins in free agency, McGovern became the de facto starting left guard. Assuming the Cowboys run a meritocracy, that likely didn’t change following the selection of Tyler Smith in Round 1.
Drafted as Tyron Smith’s potential successor, Smith is likely to begin his pro career as a guard as he adjusts to the speed of the NFL. With Zack Martin penciled in at right guard, the Tulsa product has a clear path to a starting role at LG if he impresses during training camp and the preseason.
That could mean supplanting McGovern, who started six games and played 500 snaps last season amid Williams’ penalty woes. Given his NFL experience and familiarity with Kellen Moore’s system, it’ll be McGovern’s job to lose.
The Cowboys won’t force Smith, who’s widely viewed as a developmental project, into a starting role right away, but the left guard spot is begging the No. 24 overall pick to make it his own. We’ll know soon enough if he’s up to the challenge.