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Cowboys have drama brewing with All-Pro offensive star
Dallas Cowboys guard Tyler Smith. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Cowboys have drama brewing with All-Pro offensive star

The Dallas Cowboys ended the regular season with a 34-17 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday. 

The loss dropped the Cowboys to 7-9-1 in head coach Brian Schottenheimer's first season in Dallas. Now, Schottenheimer plans to conduct exit interviews with his players before his second offseason begins.

Per Patrik Walker of the Cowboys, Tyler Smith said he planned to talk about his future position with the team during his interview on Monday. He wants to play guard, and the conversation could continue into the offseason as the Cowboys figure out what's best for Smith and the team.

In September, Smith signed a four-year contract extension worth $96 million as a left guard, but he was moved to left tackle during the season when Tyler Guyton (ankle) and Nate Thomas (shoulder) suffered injuries.

“I have the most reps I have in the NFL at offensive guard, so obviously I'm more comfortable there," Smith said. "It’s a matter of conversation. I feel like I just need to know. “

This year was kind of [due to] injuries — guys were up and down, and so, of course, I made that move for the team, but we're going to kind of find out what the grand scheme of things is going to be. And it might be a conversation that carries on for longer than just today, but at least today will give us clarity.”

Tyler Smith has good reason to ask the Dallas Cowboys questions

Smith played 906 snaps at left guard and 149 snaps at left tackle, moving to the exterior part of the offensive line in Week 16. Per Pro Football Focus, the All-Pro was ranked as the 17th-best guard out of 80 players during the regular season.

Dallas should keep Smith at guard, as that's the position the offensive star feels more comfortable playing. Guyton should resume playing at left tackle next season when he's healthy. However, Smith played extremely well when he started at left tackle.

If the Cowboys want to change his position, Smith deserves to earn another pay raise, as left tackles make significantly more money than guards because they protect the blindside of right-handed (most) quarterbacks and face the best pass-rushers.

Jordan Sigler

Jordan Sigler is a sports writer with a decade of experience as a journalist, including his time as a breaking news/day cops reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. His sports coverage across the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, and college football world has also been featured at ChiCitySports, Gridiron Heroics, Pro Football Network, and Athlon Sports. Based in Austin, Texas, Jordan graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from Texas Tech University in 2014

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