Former Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith was seen mentoring the young Cowboys offensive tackles squad during their OTAs. 

As someone who often visits his former team, Smith was seen working out with offensive linemen Terence Steele, Tyler Guyton, Ajani Cornelius, and other Cowboys’ tackles this week. 

“Cowboys legendary left tackle Tyron Smith passing down some knowledge and giving back to the team,” Brandon Loree, staff writer of Blogging The Boys, reported via X post. “Here, you could see Smith going through drills with multiple players, including RT Terence Steele. SWEET”

Tyron Smith retired in 2025 after a 14-year career in the league, 13 of which were spent anchoring the Cowboys' offensive line.

He has earned eight Pro Bowl nods and five All-Pro honors (first and second team together) and is expected to be a Hall of Famer someday. 

He was selected as the first-round pick (No. 9) in the 2011 NFL Draft. He was also the first offensive lineman to be drafted in the first round by the Cowboys since Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, bought the franchise in 1989. 

Smith logged 9,369 offensive snaps across 145 starts with the Cowboys, while also contributing 559 snaps on special teams.

While the Cowboys' legend Tyron Smith helped mentor the offensive line ahead of the 2026 season, the Cowboys continue to face uncertainty at the left tackle position. 

With Tyler Guyton showing less improvement due to constant injuries, questions remain about the long-term reliability of Guyton.

Schottenheimer Opens Battle at Left Tackle

The Cowboys' head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, recently said that Guyton must earn the left tackle spot through a battle with Nate Thomas to play as a starter for the 2026 season.

"Tyler understands the importance of this year," Schottenheimer said, via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. "Tyler and Nate Thomas are competing right now to start at left tackle. Why? Because we think that's going to get the best out of Tyler Guyton and the best out of Nate Thomas."

Guyton, a first-round pick, and Thomas, a seventh-round pick of the same 2024 draft class, are expected to battle for the position of left tackle. But the Cowboys also placed guard Tyler Smith as insurance to step in place of Guyton, if he struggles with being a starter.

Smith was moved to left tackle over the last three games of the 2025 season, as Guyton suffered an ankle injury.

"Very talented, maybe one of the most athletic big men [Guyton] I've ever been around with his ability to kick-slide, punch, move [and] run," Schottenheimer said. "But there's got to be more consistency. That's been the challenge; he's been working extremely, extremely hard at."

With the training camp approaching, the battle along the offensive line will be one of the most closely watched battles during the Cowboys' offseason. 

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore