All-Pro guard Tyler Smith seeks clarity on his future role with the Cowboys, pushing for answers after a late-season tackle experiment.
FRISCO - All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith might be the best in the business at that position.
But to close the 2025 season, his Dallas Cowboys conducted a bit of an experiment, pushing him out to serve as Dak Prescott's blindside tackle down the stretch.
And as of a few weeks ago, Smith didn't seem to be in love with the idea.
"I'm an All-Pro guard, bro. That's the simple truth if we're just looking at stuff purely off facts," Smith said before Dallas' win in Week 17 over the Washington Commanders. "So we'll see what happens, we'll have those conversations when we have those conversations and kind of see where everybody's head is at."
And now that conversation has apparently happened.
Tyler Guyton's lingering ankle issue that has kept him on injured reserve for the final chunk of the season was another reason for the shift.
Hey, maybe the gifted Smith could be an All-Pro at an even more important position, right?
It's a discussion item, and Smith on Monday - as the Cowboys conducted "exit interviews'' with their players - indicated that "clarity'' on this topic is very much on his agenda.
"Yeah, I would like there to be some clarity, for sure,'' Smith said on Monday. "And I'll get that, we're going to have those conversations when we have a conversation later today. I'll kind of get that clarity from (coaches) and what their vision is and what they say."
Does there appear to be frustration from Smith here?
That's our read. And Smith seemed prepared to broach that subject with head coach Brian Schottenheiemer.
"I do have some thoughts on my mind that I'm going to share with him, and of course I think he has some thoughts on it as well," Smith said. "So we'll see what comes of that conversation ...''
This offseason, Smith signed a four-year, $96 million contract extension to make him a top-10 lineman in the NFL by average earnings per year.
He's the highest-paid guard in football. ... which isn't the same as being the highest-paid tackle in football, where the price tag is around $28 million.
Meanwhile, Smith - along with many in Cowboys Nation - would like to know what the plan is at left tackle beyond this season. And as it enters free agency and the NFL Draft, the organization needs to know, too.
"The way you build comfort is through reps," Smith said. "And right now, I made a lot of money playing offensive guard. That's what it is. I have the most reps I have in the NFL at offensive guard, so obviously I'm more comfortable there. It's a matter of conversation, I feel like I just need to know."