Dallas Cowboys select Tyler Guyton in first round of 2024 NFL Draft

With the No. 29 pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected offensive lineman Tyler Guyton out of Oklahoma. The former Sooners standout joins Dallas after the team traded out of the No. 24 pick, sending it to the Detroit Lions.

The last time the Cowboys traded down in the first round of the NFL Draft was in 2021 when they snagged edge rusher Micah Parsons. They last drafted an offensive lineman in the first round in 2022, picking Tyler Smith out of Tulsa.

Guyton is a behemoth, standing 6-foot-8 and 322 pounds. But despite his super size, the tackle was only a three-star prospect coming out of Manor High School outside of Austin. It might’ve been because Guyton played defensive tackle. The On3 Industry Ranking listed him as the 89th best defensive lineman in the country. Meanwhile, he was the 102nd overall prospect in the recruiting-rich state.

Guyton first signed with TCU. That’s where he switched to offense. After the 2021 season, he transferred to OU. That’s where he showed his versatility. He started five games total in 2022. One of the starts was at left tackle. The other four were on the right side since Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel was a lefty. He remained at right tackle last season.

More on Cowboys 2024 NFL Draft picks

The Cowboys came into the 2024 NFL Draft with seven selections. They had four of their original picks (RD1.PK24, RD2.PK56, RD3.PK87, and RD7.PK244). Dallas also received two compensatory picks (RD5.PK174, RD6.PK216). They also acquired a seventh-round pick (RD7.PK233) via trade with the Raiders. The only round the team did not have a selection in coming into the draft was the fourth. They added pick No. 73 in the third round by trading down with the Lions from No. 24 to No. 29.

The Cowboys sent a fourth-round pick to the 49ers last year for former first-round QB Trey Lance. They also gave a fifth-round pick to the Chiefs for a six-round pick in last year’s draft, with which they drafted cornerback Eric Scott Jr. They gave up a sixth-round pick to Houston in exchange for wide receiver Brandin Cooks last offseason as well.

The 2024 NFL Draft, which began Thursday, April 25, continues through Saturday, April 27 in Detroit, Michigan. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

Free agency deteriorates Dallas’s roster

The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2024 NFL Draft with a variety of needs after a very quiet free agency period. Short on cap space, Jerry Jones and the front office let RB Tony Pollard, OT Tyron Smith, DT Johnathan Hankins, DE Dante Fowler Jr., DT Neville Gallimore, C Tyler Biadasz, DE Dorance Armstrong Jr., and CB Noah Igbinoghene walk. They also released wide receiver Michael Gallup and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, the latter for medical reasons.

Since the start of the league new year, Dallas has re-signed very few of their free agents. They signed long snapper Trent Sieg, running back Rico Dowdle, offensive tackle Chuma Edoga and cornerbacks Jourdan Lewis and CJ Goodwin. They all inked new one-year deals. The Cowboys did make two new free agency additions before the draft, signing veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks and running back Royce Freeman to one-year deals.