Overview
- ESPN's position rankings, compiled from votes by league executives, coaches and scouts, placed Tyler Smith as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in their mid‑July poll.
- The vote was not unanimous: ESPN's published ballots showed wide variation with at least one voter leaving Smith unranked and multiple players receiving at least one No. 1 vote.
- Smith signed a four‑year, $96 million extension in September 2025 that made him the highest‑paid guard in the league, a contract executives cited when praising his physical play and upside.
- Smith had a minor 'cleanup' procedure on his right knee after the Pro Bowl and has been reported ready for offseason work, while ESPN noted his 72.1% run‑game win rate and 95.2% pass‑game win rate as strong but not elite.
- Rookie Tyler Booker earned honorable mention on the same list, reinforcing coverage that Dallas's recent first‑round investments in interior offensive linemen are building both elite and emerging talent and could affect the team's protection and run game going forward.