Do you think the Cowboys will bring back Tyler Biadasz after next season?
Every offseason, questions seem to arise about the Dallas Cowboys' offensive line. While nothing is certain, the general consensus among Cowboys media members is that the team has no plans to re-sign starting center Tyler Biadasz. While coaching moves breathe some air into things and other free agents like Tyron Smith get more attention, this is still a significant hole the team needs to fill. It may be something they need to reconsider as well. Biadasz may not be a star at his job, but he has proven to be a legitimate NFL starter, and that doesn't necessarily come easily.
The main consideration is how good he is. He does have one Pro Bowl selection on his resume, but that was one of the other situations where his former player opted out. More importantly, he didn't have many clear responsibilities, except in games where the entire line seemed to be struggling. The decision to look for another starter will likely be driven by the realization that he has reached his limit. A strong line is the foundation of the attack. If they move forward, their options are to draft a rookie, go to an outside free agent pool, or look to players under contract.
The draft has long been the preferred path to roster construction in Dallas. This is if they are looking for an opening day starter, and that could mean they want to invest a 24-year-old first-round pick here. Based on CBS Sports and Drafttek's current draft committees, he has two obvious candidates.
The first is Troy Fautanu from Washington. He was an offensive tackle in college, but he projects as a player likely to move inside. He's rated as a legitimate late first-rounder. The Cowboys have had success moving tackles inside the line, with the most obvious recent example being Tyler Smith. He fits Biadaş's physical profile as he is very close to his size.
Another is minor reach quality, but Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson is a true center. He's considered to have early second-round value, and he wouldn't hesitate to make such a pick if he thinks that's the player Dallas needs. His measurements are also about the same as Biadas.
Of course, the Cowboys have a number of other needs in this year's draft, so they may take a different path. The top internal candidate is Brock Hoffman, who got some playing time last season. The staff seems to think there's something in him, but it's more to do with the offense and Mike McCarthy seems to be trying to get most of his staff back. If they decide to ride with Hoffman, they might even take a center in later rounds as insurance.
Outside free agency has long been Dallas' last option. In addition to their tendency to sell cheap, they also face the challenge of being a weak group in his 2024 year. Biadasz appears on several lists below the top 10. For now, not wanting to spend too much in free agency makes some sense here. And if the wells are about to run dry, returning to Biadas may be the best option left.
This is just one of many pieces of the puzzle that teams must find in a year where head coaches are fighting for their jobs. Given his own offensive mindset, this will be an issue they should focus on fairly early on, but a final attempt to resolve this may take some time.
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