'Raw Ability': Cowboys' Tyler Smith Earns Huge Praise On ESPN List

Dallas Cowboys guard Tyler Smith is widely regarded as one of the better guards in football since being drafted in 2022.

Having been a staple of the Cowboys' offensive line for years, even when the line was shaky, Smith was steady as a rock, and it is no surprise, to be honest.

The former first-round pick came to the Cowboys with pedigree, and he's developed into one of the NFL's best.

It is also perhaps a little forgotten that Tyler was drafted to be Tyron Smith's replacement at left tackle, but he was pushed inside to guard, and he actually played alongside Tyron, making the Cowboys' left side of the offensive line impenetrable at times.

Since Tyron moved on to the New York Jets and retired, Smith has been the veteran of the line, and his game continues to grow. Four seasons, three Pro Bowls, and Smith doesn't look like he's slowing down anytime soon.

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For ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, in ranking the top 10 guards and centers in football with the help of scouts, coaches, and executives, to somewhat of a little surprise, Tyler comes in at No. 1.

"Smith is the league's highest-paid guard, and for good reason," Fowler wrote. "The 2022 first-round pick has worked his way from offensive tackle prospect to elite guard with three consecutive Pro Bowls. In a very close race with several others, Smith wins on raw ability.

And an AFC executive had a glowing endorsement of Smith.

"Rare combination of size, athleticism, strength and finish. "He's like prime Jason Peters playing guard."

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We know how good a player Smith is, but in the ESPN piece, for each player, they also list the highest and lowest rankings, and in an odd twist, some have Smith unranked. 

Meaning he was outside the top 10 guards in football. That's just laughable, right?

Seen as a key piece of the offensive line for years, I'd imagine Tyler will feature high on most lists like this for the foreseeable future.

His versatility in playing both tackle and guard makes him a great piece to have along the line for Dak Prescott, and as we look ahead to 2026, Smith is poised for another Pro Bowl-caliber season.

This time, as the NFL's best guard.