Dallas Cowboys draft needs: Are scales tipping toward a first-round offensive lineman?

The NFL draft is coming later this month. This series looks at how the Dallas Cowboys stand at every position as the team prepares to make its selections in Detroit. The second installment is the offensive line:

Offensive line is a priority for the Cowboys in this draft.

Arguably the top priority.

Two starters are gone. Tyron Smith, who has been so good at left tackle for so long that he’s already paved his way to the Hall of Fame, and center Tyler Biadasz left in free agency. Both must be replaced. But another question must be answered first.

Where does Tyler Smith play? That will determine how the dominoes and depth fall.

Head coach Mike McCarthy has said that Smith is the team’s left guard at the moment. But that moment could look much different once the draft is done.

The preference would be to keep Smith at guard, where he blossomed into a Pro Bowl player in his second season, and pick up a starting left tackle in the draft. But if the top tackles are gone when the Cowboys pick, the coaching staff may decide to bump Smith outside to left tackle and go from there.

Players on roster

Zack Martin: Age has had an impact on his performance, but he’s still better than most at his position.

Tyler Smith: The pivotal player in this line going forward. Could be special at guard.

Terence Steele: He struggled at times last year coming off major surgery, but his determination and fight is never questioned.

Josh Ball: Needs to show something going into his fourth season.

T.J. Bass: Will be given a shot to start at left guard if Smith is kicked outside.

Brock Hoffman: The starting center position falls to him by default — for now — with Biadasz’s departure.

Asim Richards: Showed some promise as a rookie and has positioned himself to work his way into the rotation.

Matt Waletzko: Same position as Ball. Needs to carve a niche for himself this season.

Strengths

The right side of the line is set with Martin and Steele. Martin remains dominant. Does he remain in the conversation for the league’s top guard? Probably not. But he’s still top five. Steele’s stock should continue to rise now that he’s more than a year removed from surgery.

Smith will establish himself as the line’s top talent if his career arch continues in the same direction. With those three pieces in place — two Pro Bowl talents in Martin and Smith and a tackle in Steele who sets a hard-nosed mentality, especially in the run game — the Cowboys are still better off than most despite the loss of two starters in free agency.

Weaknesses

Two starting jobs are up for grabs with no clear answer waiting in the wings. No proven veteran depth exists behind the starting five at this time. What happens at tackle if a starter goes down is of particular concern.

That’s more uncertainty than the Cowboys can afford going into the season. The club has hit on some good starting talent in the line in recent years, but the develop part of draft and develop has overall been lacking.

Three draft targets

Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State: He’s visiting The Star this week as part of the team’s 30 visits. There’s no way he’d still be on the board when the Cowboys pick at No. 24.

Graham Barton, Duke: Another 30 visit. Finished his college career at left tackle, but he lacks ideal length on the outside at this level and projects inside.

Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon: And yet another 30 visit. First player in Pac-12 history to win Rimington Award as nation’s top center.

Bottom line

Part of the reason the club reluctantly cut ties with Tyron Smith is because it felt this was a strong, deep draft at offensive tackle. Will they find a player at accomplished and dominant as Smith? No. But Dallas seeks to find another fixture in the offensive line to pair with Tyler Smith going forward.

The scales tip to the Cowboys taking an offensive lineman in the first round of the draft later this month, either at tackle or on the interior. Don’t be surprised if it uses another pick on an offensive lineman before the second night is done.

Catch David Moore periodically on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) during the offseason.

Twitter/X: @DavidMooreDMN

Cowboys draft need series

— Quarterbacks

— Running backs

— Wide receivers

— Tight ends

— Offensive line

— Defensive ends

— Defensive tackles

— Linebackers

— Defensive backs

— More coming soon...

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