Tyler Smith talks where he needs to improve to make instant impact

The Dallas Cowboys believe they found an instant impact starter on Day One of the 2022 NFL Draft, selecting Tulsa offensive tackle Tyler Smith with the No. 24 overall pick in the first round. Already becoming a fan-favorite for his enthusiasm and excitement to join the team, the 6-foot-4, 324-pound man is also ready to lay the groundwork.

During his introductory press conference, Tyler Smith shared the areas he wants to improve in order to make an instant impact for the Dallas Cowboys and establish his place in the NFL.

“I definitely want to get everything moving together,” said Smith. “Whether it be hands or feet. But I want to improve on everything. Even the things that I perceive to do well. To me, if you stop the relentless pursuit to get better, you’re going to stall out, you’re going to stagnate. I’m competing with dudes who are probably in high school right now, I’m competing with dudes who are in the league right now who are All-Pros.

“I know what it’s going to take to do that, I know the groundwork it’s going to take. I have wonderful vets in this building in Tyron Smith, Zach Martin, Terence Steele. Those guys, that’s a wellspring of knowledge for me to learn from so I’m definitely going to do that and continue to improve my game for sure.”

Tyler Smith on Cowboys history

Tyler Smith knows his team history as well. He took time to reveal which Dallas Cowboys offensive linemen he grew up watching, and the impact those players had on his young career so far.

“I’d definitely say – I’m a younger guy – so Larry Allen, he’s before my time,” said Smith. “But I caught a lot of him in the media, Sanoma State, all the adversity he went through to get here. And the Hall of Fame career he had, just the way he plays.

“But Tyron Smith, definitely, Zach Martin, Connor Williams and those guys. Those are guys I grew up watching and I grew up trying to embody their game into my own. So just to be in this building – have some of these dudes, call some of these dudes my now and be able to learn from them – I feel like that’s going to take my game leaps into the future. It’s a great wellspring of knowledge for myself to have.”

Smith also revealed that he knows his Cowboys “trivia” and has shown off his knowledge over the past week since joining the team.