The Dallas Cowboys have had a clear vision of improving their offensive line over the last few years. That is why they’ve used three first-round picks since the 2022 draft on offensive linemen as they believe a strong unit can set the foundation for the entire team.
Dallas has had some awesome offensive lines in the last few years, but the unit has aged out and players like Tyron Smith and Zack Martin were clearly past their primes.
So, they have leaned into the youth movement, much like they did in the early 2010s when they selected Smith, Martin, and Travis Frederick all in the first round. While a rebuild was necessary, relying on youth doesn't always produce immediate results.
The Cowboys are extremely young on the offensive line
The average age of the five starting offensive linemen for the Cowboys going into the season is just 24.2 years old. And that number is brought up some due to Terence Steele, who turned 28 in June. Steele is the oldest offensive linemen on the team by two years, which just goes to show how young this unit is this season.
Even the backups in Dallas are young, which is rare in today’s NFL. Most teams like to keep a few seasoned veterans on the roster, but the Cowboys have leaned into the youth movement there, as well. Brock Hoffman, T.J. Bass, Nate Thomas, and Ajani Cornelius have an average age of 24.7, which brings the entire nine-man group to an average of 24.4.
We should expect some growing pains from this unit early in the season, especially with three starters playing in their first or second NFL season. Pair that with a new offensive line coach and a new offensive coordinator and it’s not hard to envision the group struggling early on.
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However, the Cowboys are hopeful that this unit can develop quickly, much like the 2014-2016 offensive line. There is no shortage of talent, and even backups like Hoffman and Bass have plenty of NFL experience if they ever need to appear in a game.
There is a lot to disagree with when it comes to how the Cowboys build their football team. But the fact that they believe so heavily in having a strong offensive line is a good thing for their long-term outlook.
If this young offensive line can gel quicker than expected, Dallas could drastically outperform expectations this season. The hope is that this unit can stay together for the foreseeable future, and that should be possible given their youth and current contract structures. This unit will likely determine the ceiling for the Cowboys this year, and their development will decide if they are a playoff contender or not in 2025.