The Dallas Cowboys handed Tyler Smith a $96 million extension in 2025, making him the highest-paid guard in the league. That kind of money puts a target on your back. But when ESPN asked NFL executives, coaches and scouts to rank the top interior offensive linemen this week, Smith landed at No. 1.
It wasn’t close.
What the league sees that stats don’t always show
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler polled people around the league for his annual position rankings, and Smith got the top spot. His win rates — 72.1% in the run game and 95.2% in pass protection — are good but not mind-blowing on paper. But the people who break down film every week say it’s the way he plays that separates him.
One AFC executive put it bluntly: Smith is a rare combination of size, athleticism, strength and finish. Then came the comparison that made people pay attention. That exec said Smith plays like prime Jason Peters, the nine-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro who spent most of his career terrorizing defenses at left tackle for the Eagles.
That’s not a casual comparison. Peters was a Hall of Fame talent who dominated for years. Hearing an exec say that about a guy who just moved to guard full time? That carries weight.
Smith’s path from tackle prospect to elite guard
The Cowboys drafted Smith in the first round in 2022 as a tackle. He bounced around a bit before settling in at guard, where he’s made three straight Pro Bowls. The leap from tackle to guard isn’t always smooth. Some guys never adjust to the tighter spaces and different angles. Smith did it like it was no big deal.
His extension was a statement from the front office: we think this guy is the foundation of the line for years. So far, that bet looks smart.
Where the rest of Dallas’ line landed
Smith was the only Cowboys offensive lineman to make any of ESPN’s top 10 lists this offseason. Tyler Booker and Cooper Beebe didn’t crack the interior list. Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele didn’t make the tackle rankings either. That doesn’t mean the unit is weak. It just means Smith is the clear standout on a line that still has solid pieces around him.
The Cowboys have enough up front to protect Dak Prescott and let the offense run. That’s the baseline. Smith being the best guard in the league gives them a legitimate advantage in the middle of the field.
What’s next for the Cowboys’ offensive line
Training camp opens July 28 when all players report. The first open practice is July 29. That’s when we’ll get the first real look at how the line comes together for 2026. If Smith plays anything like the exec who compared him to Peters thinks he will, the Cowboys might have a shot at making noise in the NFC East.
No pressure. Just $96 million worth of it.
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