The nation can be forgiven for being numb to the Cowboys' ever-growing list of departures for failing to fully embrace key additions.
Hudson Gage Martin joins the offensive line. Admittedly, the newborn won't be of much use this season, but he should be able to challenge his father Zach right away.
Now, let's get back to the current state of Dallas' offensive line. Starters Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz left in free agency. The Cowboys have not signed a player to replace them.
The surprise increases. A disgruntled and disappointed fan base wants to know what club officials are thinking.
Here we take a look at what this situation is and how it will play out.
It all starts with Tyler Smith. The coaching staff will have to decide whether to keep him at left guard or push him out and back to left tackle.
It's tempting to think the Cowboys will keep him wary, but he blossomed into a Pro Bowl player in his second season there. Why mess with that level of success, especially when the team is in a good position to land Tyron Smith's replacement in the first round of next month's draft?
But that's not a given. Remember, Smith was drafted as a college tackle out of Tulsa and is considered the successor to left tackle Tyron Smith. The first-round pick took the job sooner than anyone imagined when the veteran was injured during training camp and missed most of the 2022 season.
Tyler Smith held up well as a rookie left tackle. very well. The Cowboys compiled a 12-5 record that season with Tyler Smith at left tackle and Terrence Steele at right tackle.
The coaching staff will likely look to run both of them back as starting tackles. This is part of an ongoing discussion at The Star that has not yet been fully resolved.
Tyler Smith has the flexibility to excel at either position, giving the Cowboys options going into this draft.
There should be at least six offensive tackles in the first round. Oklahoma's Tyler Guyton and Georgia's Amarius Mims appear to be the most likely choice for the Cowboys at No. 24.
If Guyton or Mims are there, the Cowboys may decide they're comfortable starting one as a rookie and keeping Smith inside. If Guyton and Mims and the other top tackles are gone, which is a possibility, the club may be tempted to change gears and take Jackson Powers-Johnson, who is generally considered the top center in this draft. It may be possible. He will step in immediately to replace Biadas.
In that scenario, Smith would remain at left tackle.
And this is something that no one outside the organization is discussing at this point. What if the coaching staff and personnel department assess that the college tackle the Cowboys took at No. 24 has the characteristics to move to guard?
Tyler Smith was a college tackle and the Cowboys quickly moved him to guard. Zach Martin is a Hall of Fame tackle and right guard at Notre Dame.
Even if the Cowboys take him in the first round, there's no guarantee Smith will remain on guard.
What will happen to the rest of the offensive line? The Cowboys were willing to give Steele the guard job last season, but he passed it up as he returned from injury. The club currently appears content to continue at right tackle alongside Martin, who is a regular at right guard.
TJ Bass intrigues the Dallas coaching staff. He has a strong lower body and could be given a chance to get the left guard job if the club kicks Smith out of play. Brock Hoffman is currently the default center.
But this is a deep draft at this position. The Cowboys could get a starter there on Day 3.
A notable wildcard is La'el Collins, who played guard and tackle during his NFL career. He is still working his way back into shape and has been with The Star during the offseason.
Tyron Smith turned back time with a great season in '23. The Cowboys won't be able to replace him.
But Dallas officials have been excited about the offensive tackle talent in this draft for months. That definitely influenced the difficult decision to let Tyron Smith walk.
Now, the club has to decide whether to let Tyler Smith play left tackle or left guard. The rest of the row falls into place from there.
After all, Hudson Gage needs some more time to develop the core strength and weight to compete.
Check out David Moore regularly during the offseason on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM).
Twitter/X: @DavidMooreDMN
Read more Cowboys coverage from the Dallas Morning News here.
