The Dallas Cowboys will hold their mandatory minicamp from June 16 to June 18 before opening training camp in late July. Amid the competition at left tackle, one Cowboys analyst is predicting a strong year two leap from Tyler Guyton.

During episode 180 of the Doin’ Alright podcast, Cowboys analyst Voch Lombardi downplayed the idea of a true left tackle competition, citing expectations that Tyler Guyton will make a major leap if he stays healthy and available throughout the season. 

“I think we should be higher on Tyler Guyton,” Lombardi said. “We just haven't seen it. Duke [Manyweather] has seen it. And it ain't nobody in the world I trust more in O-line land than Duke Manny."

In his first two years at the Cowboys, Guyton has only started in 21 games out of a possible 34. For a 1st-round pick, those numbers have not been ideal.

"Duke projects Tyler Guyton to take this job handily, take a huge leap, and be just fine when the season gets here. We just haven't seen that yet," Lombardi further added.

Lombardi relies on the assessment made by Duke Manyweather, a renowned offensive line guru and founder of O-line mastermind, regarding Guyton.

According to Manyweather, Guyton could take a leap in his second year with the Cowboys and play at left tackle just as fine when he enters the season.

“So, this imaginary tackle competition,” Lombardi said. “I think this is Schottenheimer trying to do coaching jiu-jitsu, to try to get Guyton motivated, to get Guyton to take the next step, step up, mature, and really solidify that left tackle position and ease some of the uncertainty of it."

Guyton never found stability in his first two NFL seasons. After an underwhelming rookie campaign in 2024, expectations were much higher entering 2025, but injuries once again disrupted his momentum.

A knee injury during training camp immediately put him behind the curve. Then came a Week 12 ankle sprain, which effectively ended his year, with Guyton never returning to the field afterward.

Lombardi further added that if this competition were real, the Cowboys should have made the veterans join the battle with Taylor Decker (former Detroit Lions star), Chuma Edoga (former Cowboys left tackle), rookie Drew Shelton, and Nate Thomas to make it seem legitimate.

"You let Tyler Guyton lead it off, and you let him fight those five guys off," Lombardi said. "If this were truly a competition, that's what it would be."

If Lombardi's projection proves right, the offseason 'fun' battle could be a true chance for Guyton to prove himself as the long-term answer at the position.

Tyler Guyton Embraces Cowboys' Left Tackle Competition

According to Tommy Yarrish of the Dallas Cowboys.com, Guyton being available through the season is the biggest question regarding his position, as constant injuries have kept him from reaching his full potential.

Schottenheimer, during the OTA session, said that Tyler's consistency is his biggest concern, and the Cowboys are "going to make [Guyton] earn it" by making him compete with third-year OT Nate Thomas.

"Same equation, come to work every day, try to get better, prepare myself for the next day…" Guyton said, per Tommy Yarrish of Dallas Cowboys.com. "There's competition everywhere on the team. It's a football team, and everybody wants to play. Friendly competition isn't bad. It brings the best out of people."

While the competition may fuel his development, Guyton's ability to stay healthy and perform consistently could determine whether he finally lives up to his first-round expectations.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote