Micah Parsons helps prove Cowboys hit jackpot with Tyler Guyton

Training camp is one week old and there's a lot to be excited about. While the Dallas Cowboys are navigating through some issues in Oxnard, that can be said for most teams. In terms of storylines and players that are under the biggest spotlight, 2024 first-round pick Tyler Guyton is right up there.

Selected No. 29 overall in this year's draft, Guyton started less than 20 games at Oklahoma and he hardly has any experience at left tackle. It would be a tall ask for most rookie tackles to start Week 1 at a relatively new position.

Guyton's rawness makes that even an even bigger demand, which explains why some Cowboys insiders question whether the 23-year-old will start a single game at left tackle. The first padded practices of camp were going to be huge as far as judging how much run Guyton can handle in year one.

Well, after just one practice Guyton looks like the real deal as he stonewalled Micah Parsons (!) on several reps in pass protection.

Cowboys rookie Tyler Guyton looks like real deal after winning reps vs Micah Parsons

Parsons thought he could beat the rookie with sheer speed. Little does Parsons know (though he likely knows now) that Guyton's footwork and athleticism are among the best of the 2024 class. Parsons attempted a swim move over Guyton's shoulder and the first-round pick took the all-world pass rusher for a ride past Prescott.

The Cowboys' defense got pressure up the middle, but Guyton gave Dak Prescott a pocket of space to step into his throw and connect with tight end Peyton Hendershot.

After coming up short on rep one, Parsons tried to overwhelm Guyton with power. Again, the rookie didn't give an inch. He got to his spot and displayed great placement and timing with his hands. Guyton even showed off his strength with a strong latch to make sure Parsons didn't get around him.

Guyton won reps against multiple Cowboys pass rushers, not just Parsons. He gave Parsons and others everything they could handle.

It'd be unfair to Guyton to crown him as a future star after one padded practice. Parsons and others will surely put him through some rough practices over the course of training camp, but that is how he's going to get better.

At the very least, Guyton shouldn't see any more reps with the second-team offense. None of the concerns that showed up on film and rendered him as a late first-round prospect were spotted. It is extremely impressive that he's kicked those bad habits in a few short months since the draft.

Nobody is coining Guyton the second coming of Tyron Smith, but it's hard not to get excited about the rookie's domination of Parsons given the Cowboys' track record with drafting offensive linemen early.

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