DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - It’s a season of change for the Dallas Cowboys, as they’ve already bid farewell to several key contributors from the 2021 team.
The area where there is perhaps the most change is along the offensive line.
The Cowboys released long-time right tackle La’el Collins, and left guard Connor Williams was signed away by the Dolphins. Add to the fact that Tyron Smith isn’t getting any younger at left tackle, and the Cowboys have a lot to consider in regards to the future of their offensive line.
Speaking with reporters from league meetings in Florida, Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones confirmed that the team has an interest in a “young OL who can start immediately,” per Jori Epstein from USA Today.
When asked if the team would target one early in the draft, Jones seemed to insinuate that was likely.
“Famous last words: We’ll get one unless Lamb or Parsons is there,” Jones said, via Michael Gehlken from the Dallas Morning News.
The Cowboys pick at 24 in the first round of next month’s draft, and there will be several intriguing names to consider at all spots along the offensive line.
Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning met formally with the Cowboys in Indianapolis and has impressed them during the pre-draft process with his blue-collar mindset. Penning would likely have to spend a year playing the role of swing tackle, as his large frame makes it tough to project him playing guard. Penning had a strong performance at the combine, however, and may have worked his way out of Dallas’ range.
If Dallas opted for a center to upgrade over Tyler Biadasz, they could look to Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum. Linderbaum is the no-doubt-about-it top center in the draft this year. There are questions about his weight, arm length, and play strength, but he’s an elite technician who would likely have little trouble with some of the NFL’s larger defensive linemen, especially considering Zack Martin would be alongside him to help mitigate any issues.
One name of particular interest, who could step in and play any spot along the offensive line is Texas A&M’s Kenyon Green. Green played all five spots during his time with the Aggies, and the Cowboys could play him immediately at left guard while reserving the opportunity to make him their left tackle of the future when Tyron Smith eventually moves on.
Their interest in Green with the 24th pick is made obvious by the fact that they’ve scheduled him as one of their national pre-draft visitors. Teams are allotted 30 invitations by the NFL to bring players to their facility for medical testing and interviews with team brass. Dallas’ first pick in the draft has most frequently come from this list.
Regardless of what name the Cowboys ultimately settle on, and what round they choose to address the position, it’s pretty clear that Jerry Jones is looking to re-establish a dominant offensive line that fell on hard times in the second half of the 2021 season.
