When you think of the Dallas Cowboys, rule of thumb is that Dak Prescott or CeeDee Lamb is always the first current player to come to mind. Back then, it was Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, and Ezekiel Elliott, or Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmitt Smith. The skill positions get all the shine, and that remains a prevalent trend nowadays.
Only the best of the best at other positions get discussed, so unless you're an upper-echelon talent ,it often get overlooked how impactful other players are. This is especially true in the trenches, where the Cowboys themselves are sitting on one of the NFL's most underrated young offensive linemen.
Dallas drafted IOL Cooper Beebe in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft after Tyler Biadasz left in free agency, and that quickly paid off. Instead of playing him at his natural position at guard, the Cowboys moved him to center, and the early returns suggest his best is yet to come.
Cooper Beebe is bound to become a star for the Dallas Cowboys
While going over some potential breakout offensive players in 2026, Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice finally gave the third-year lineman some credit. He expects Beebe to really improve his perception in league circles this season to the point that he'll become a household name beyond Cowboys fans.
"Beebe is a player whose build I once described as like Spongebob Squarepants," Tice wrote. "The Cowboys took him in the third round of the 2024 draft, bumped him to center, and it looks like they've found their next long-term answer at the position... He's also created a great battery with Dak Prescott in how they communicate pre-snap."
This is the first time I've ever seen someone be compared to SpongeBob Squarepants and it be meant as a compliment. Tice noted that despite his lack of length, the 25-year-old has bulk and does a good job of maximizing that. And he has developed a strong rapport with Dak Prescott.
It's hard to be surprised about what he's accomplished. During his time at Kansas State, he was a two-time Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year and a two-time All-American. He was built to be a pro-ready lineman who would instantly offer a team some much-needed stability in the trenches.
According to Pro Football Focus, Beebe's 67.9 PFF grade in 2025 ranked 16th among all centers, while his 68.4 run blocking grade ranked 14th. He's quickly cemented himself as a key piece of an ascending offensive line, but because of the position he plays, it's easy to lose sight of his impact.
If you surveyed 100 random NFL fans, a lot would tell you they don't know who Cooper Beebe is, but they'll be forced to remember his name soon.
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