Cowboys trade down, take Guyton to fill OT need

Original source (on modern site) | Article images: [1]

• Todd Archer, ESPN Staff WriterApr 25, 2024, 11:51 PM ET

  Close

  Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010. You can follow him on Twitter at @toddarcher.

FRISCO, Texas -- Trading down in the first round for the first time since 2021, the Dallas Cowboys selected Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton with the 29th pick after making a deal with the Detroit Lions.

The Cowboys had a chance to select Duke center Graham Barton but opted to trade down, giving up the 24th overall pick and a 2025 seventh-round selection in exchange for the Lions' first- and third-round picks this year (Nos. 29 and 73).

"It's hard to do with an offensive lineman, but you would hope to have a little sexiness to this pick, using your first round," owner Jerry Jones said.

"Actually, thought we had that with Tyler Smith two years ago," Jones said, referring to the Cowboys' first-round pick in 2022. "I think we've got it here. This is a sexy pick for an offensive lineman because he's got a lot of upside."

The Cowboys hope the trade works out as well as the last time they moved down in the draft. In 2021, the Cowboys went from No. 10 to No. 12 overall in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles and took edge rusher Micah Parsons, who has recorded 40.5 sacks and finished second (twice) and third in the Defensive Player of the Year award in his first three seasons.

The Eagles selected wide receiver DeVonta Smith with the Cowboys' pick that year.

While Barton would have filled a need at center, Guyton fills a need with the departure of eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith in free agency to the New York Jets. He started only 15 games at Oklahoma with 13 coming at right tackle, but he did protect the blind side of left-handed quarterback Dillon Gabriel last year.

When Guyton moved to offensive line, he said Smith was one of the players he studied the most.

"I feel like those are big shoes to fill from such a legendary tackle," Guyton said, "but I'm going to work my ass off to do the best that I can."

Guyton becomes the fifth offensive lineman the Cowboys have selected in the first round since 2011, joining Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick (2013), Zack Martin (2014) and Tyler Smith (2022). All four have been selected to the Pro Bowl, while Tyron Smith and Martin have built Hall of Fame careers.

The trade helps the Cowboys cover their lack of a fourth-round pick after last year's trade for quarterback Trey Lance but now have three Day 2 picks in order to fill holes along the offensive line, running back and linebacker.

They now have picks in the second (56th), third (73rd), third (87th), fifth (174th), sixth (216th), seventh (233rd) and seventh (244th) rounds.

The Cowboys had opportunities to trade back for a second time Thursday night, but had their eyes set on Guyton, Barton, Missouri edge Darius Robinson and Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan. Executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team did not want to lose out on having a fifth-year option on a first-round pick.

"It's important," Jones said. "It's also important because you're getting toward the end of your good stuff. And we just didn't want to do one of those drafts where you keep moving back and keep moving back and then unfortunately you get to the middle of the second [round] and you might be taking third-round graded players. So at some point you just say, 'Let's take one of these guys we really like,' or one of your top 32 players on your board."