Dallas Cowboys VP opens up about team's reasons for selecting Tyler Smith in Round 1

The Dallas Cowboys made one of the more risky picks in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, selecting offensive lineman Tyler Smith out of Tulsa. The need was there at the position and Smith projects as somebody who can play on the inside right away but eventually move out to tackle as his career progresses.

Selecting Smith has been a big talking point ever since, especially for Executive Vice President Stephen Jones. He recently discussed the thought process behind the pick while appearing on a Pro Football Talk podcast, saying they took the health and age of current starting left tackle Tyron Smith into consideration.

“I just think his upside is tremendous,” Jones said. “He played at a smaller school there at Tulsa. He only played 18 games at Tulsa. But we just feel like his skill set really lends to him having an opportunity to be a top, top left tackle at some point. Obviously, we got one of the best in the business for him to learn from in Tyron Smith. Certainly, Tyler Smith will get an opportunity to hit the field at some other spots as well. He’ll compete on the left side: left guard, left tackle.

“Unfortunately, Tyron has missed some time over the past four or five years, so we obviously have to take a look at that with his age and just the track record of him missing some games year in and year out. But we do feel like one of the reasons that we really wanted (Tyler) was his versatility and the upside to go out and play left tackle versus maybe taking a couple guys who were more center-only type guys. We just felt like it was best for our organization to go in that direction.”

Tyron Smith has been a starter for the Cowboys ever since they drafted him in the first round back in 2011. A majority of his career has been spent at left tackle but thanks to injuries over the years, he has not played a full season since 2015. Dallas is hoping that Tyler Smith, while starting at left guard, can move outside if Tyron has similar issues.

Jones has admitted there is a developmental process that will have to take place with Smith and it starts with offensive line coach Joe Philbin. In order to make the first-round pick worth it, Smith must reach his full potential sooner rather than later.