Texas’s Frisco Despite the intense 90-degree heat on Wednesday, Tyler Guyton was unfazed by the heat during the Dallas Cowboys minicamp. He takes great satisfaction in having a work ethic based on a sincere passion for the game.
“Good,” he told The Athletic when asked about it after practice. “I f—ing love it. That’s football, man. That’s the game you signed up for. You want it to be hot and nasty out there. We’re putting in work. Everybody is doing this s— together. We have one collective goal and we’re doing everything we can to reach it.”
The offseason program’s organized team activities and minicamp components have not gone just as Dallas’ first-round pick had hoped. He lines up as the second-team left tackle and has been honing his craft to become a better run blocker.
“It’s a little bit different than I thought,” he said. “I love it, though. It’s just I didn’t know what I didn’t know. It’s just getting acclimated to new techniques and things like that, all of the new plays. It’s been fun, but it’s also been a challenge, for sure.
“I feel like I’m more in shape than I’ve ever been.”
Tyler Guyton pic.twitter.com/yoYjnz4Z7N
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 5, 2024
It was a dream come true for Guyton and his Cowboys-loving family to be selected by Dallas. Even though he has not yet received a star for his helmet, he now formally feels like a member of the group.
“I started building relationships with guys I used to look up to,” he said. “And I still do. But my idols are recognizing me as a teammate, and I think that’s cool. I definitely had to earn my respect.
“It’s been cool getting to see their process and how they go about things. Playing football, it’s an extremely high-level sport and these guys are really pros and I can see why.”
Among the players Guyton has been observing is Dak Prescott. On Wednesday, the starting quarterback for the Cowboys expressed his admiration for Guyton and the rookie class, calling it the best he had ever seen.
“Just how smart they are,” Prescott said. “Them understanding the attention to details, following the old guys, asking questions, not being hesitant. A lot of times you get rookies come in, eyes are down. This group walks around, head up, looking to engage in conversation, looking to learn. It starts with Guyton, honestly. Leader of that group, first pick. And he’s done a great job as the rest of them have of coming in, having a great offseason, making sure they hit training camp full speed.”
The Cowboys will report to Oxnard, California, for the commencement of training camp in six weeks. Guyton intends to remain in the vicinity and carry on his workouts with offensive line guru Duke Manyweather until then. For a number of Dallas’ offensive lineman, that is the plan.
“I’m just following in the footsteps of the guys ahead of me and figuring it all out,” Guyton said. “I definitely feel like (that work) will transfer. They work hand in hand together. He has good techniques over there.”
Guyton expressed gratitude for the Cowboys offensive line room’s “welcomed me with open arms.”
“Every guy in the room helps out the rookies,” he added. “That’s pretty rare, I’ve heard. I couldn’t be in a better situation, honestly.”
Tyron Smith, an eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle who signed a contract with the New York Jets in March, was replaced by the former Oklahoma starting right tackle, who was selected 29th overall. During the parts of practice that were accessible to reporters, none of the rookies for the Cowboys worked with the starting squad. Those positions must be merited. Chuma Edoga at left tackle, Tyler Smith at left guard, Brock Hoffman at center, T.J. Bass at right guard, and Terence Steele at right tackle made up the first-team offensive line during OTAs and minicamp.
Guyton at left tackle, Tyler Smith at left guard, rookie Cooper Beebe at center, Zack Martin at right guard, and Steele at right tackle make up the most likely starting offensive line in Week 1.
“I’m just telling him to be confident,” Smith said. “His tools are outrageous. The dude is long. The dude is athletic. He has so many gifts. Right now, I’m just trying to give him the cheat codes.”
What is Guyton’s Year 1 goal?
“Whatever my role is,” he said. “Making this team better any way that I can. Any way I can contribute to making us better and helping us win, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Is he hoping to start right away?
“I’ll leave that up to the coaches,” Guyton said. “I’m going to put my best foot forward so I can be in that position. But if I’m not, I’m not.”
There are probably going to be some difficult days ahead. Guyton will see a lot of Myles Garrett, the defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, the current NFL Defensive Player of the Year, if he starts Week 1. Including 14 last year, the 2017 No. 1 pick has accumulated double-digit sacks in each of the previous six seasons.
Guyton’s first true test, however, will come in California at the end of July when he faces All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons when the pads finally come on.
“Iron sharpens iron,” Guyton said of that matchup. “I think we’re gonna make each other better.”
(Photo: Chris Jones / USA Today)
