The Dallas Cowboys still have two games left this season, but it's time to start looking to the future now that they are officially eliminated from playoff contention. With Dallas riding a three-game losing streak, the fan base is now rooting for losses in the name of landing the best possible draft pick.
While everyone is focused on Matt Eberflus' future, right tackle Terence Steele has emerged as an offseason cut candidate to help the Cowboys clean up their salary cap. There is an easy out in Steele's contract in 2026, and his inconsistent play this season has not helped his case.
Time will tell if Jerry Jones feels the same, but Dallas might already be planning for life without Steele based on one major decision following Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
After the game, Brian Schottenheimer affirmed that standout guard Tyler Smith, who started at left tackle on Sunday, will remain the starter at LT in the final two games, even if Tyler Guyton returns. Schottenheimer added that if Guyton returns, he'll be the swing tackle.
Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer said postgame that Tyler Smith will remain the starter at left tackle for the rest of the season, even if Tyler Guyton returns.
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) December 21, 2025
He said if Guyton returns, he will be the swing tackle, opening up the possibility of him seeing time at right tackle.
Cowboys might already be planning for life without RT Terence Steele
Tyler Smith is definitively the Cowboys' best option at left tackle. Guyton has shown promise this season, but pre-snap penalties are still an issue, and he's been hurt a lot. They need him to develop, but that obviously can't happen if he's out of the lineup.
It's possible that Dallas is mulling moving Guyton to right tackle next season, while making Smith the permanent left tackle. A 2023 first-round pick, Guyton played over 1,000 snaps at right tackle at Oklahoma compared to 70 at left tackle.
The Cowboys need more consistency when it comes to protecting Dak Prescott's blindside, and Guyton's absence has proven that Nathan Thomas isn't the answer. It speaks volumes that Smith got the start at LT over Thomas, who practiced in full last week.
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With Steele seemingly on the outs and Guyton's development being stunted, offensive tackle is once again a need this offseason. Shifting Smith to left tackle would fix that, even though his ceiling is much higher at left guard. Finding a guard is a lot cheaper than finding a new tackle. Moving Smith out wide would remove the need to draft an OT in round one, thus giving the front office the freedom to use both first-round picks on defensive players.
Nothing has been confirmed for 2026, but hypothetically, here is what the offensive line could look like next season:
- LT: Tyler Smith
- LG: TJ Bass
- C: Cooper Beebe
- RG: Tyler Booker
- RT: Tyler Guyton
There is certainly a conversation to be had about keeping Smith at his best position, as he’s one of the most dominant guards in all of football. While he’s been serviceable to good at tackle, it’s fair to wonder how a full-time move to left tackle would impact the overall health of the offensive line, even if it gives Prescott more protection on his blindside.
Keeping Smith at left tackle for the final two games may be more about protecting Prescott for the remainder of the season than finding a long-term solution. That it’s even being put into action, however, doesn’t bode well for Steele’s future with the team.