The Dallas Cowboys' decision to move on from perennial All-Pro Tyron Smith, who recently retired after a difficult final season with the New York Jets, led to the equally polarizing move of picking Oklahoma's Tyler Guyton as his replacement.
Smith has clearly been keeping tabs on his old team, and he noticed that Guyton wasn't performing at a level that Dallas expected of him. No. 77 has taken to upon himself to ensure that Guyton is performing up to his immense potential.
Smith has been working out with Guyton, who was drafted to replace Smith at left tackle, in the offseason. Even after a tough rookie season, Smith believes that Guyton has the ability to eventually become a star once his technique gets a bit more robust.
“He wants to put in the work,” Smith said, via Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “He just needs a little technique work which he’s doing right now. I feel like it’s going to be a different type of year for him to slow the game down and get the rookie nerves out...Being a first-rounder the way he is, he already has the expectations. But you can’t lean in too much on that, you have to have it for yourself."
Cowboys legend Tyron Smith is mentoring Tyler Guyton
Guyton graded out as just the 115th-best tackle out of 140 in Pro Football Focus' eyes. Guyton allowed six sacks, allowed 26 pressures, and committed a stunning 18 penalties. Guyton was billed as a raw project coming out of Oklahoma, and his performance during his first season bears that out.
Smith knows that if Guyton fails to thrive on a Cowboys team that will likely be committed to running the ball under Brian Schottenheimer, there is a very real chance that Dallas will need to look elsewhere for someone who can be a more productive left tackle for Dak Prescott.
Will Tyler Guyton improve for the Dallas Cowboys?
Guyton is expected to be the team's left tackle of the future as he integrates himself into a very young offensive line. Right tackle Terence Steele is the elder statesman, Tyler Smith is still on his rookie contract, and three projected starters (Guyton, center Cooper Beebe, rookie right guard Tyler Booker) are 24 years old or younger.
It remains to be seen if Guyton can implement Smith's teachings, but it's nice to see one of the best to ever do it giving back to the team who helped make him such an icon in recent NFL history.