The Dallas Cowboys might have one of the most promising interior offensive lines in the NFL. With recent first-round picks filling both guard positions, it isn’t necessarily a bold statement but it’s an important one, nonetheless. And with a second-year player in Cooper Beebe at center, the Cowboys have one of the youngest and most pedigreed units in the league. Anything less than dominance would be disappointing.
This isn’t to say the Cowboys are without concern along their interior. Beebe only has one year of experience at the center position and his continued growth is far from a given. The expected starting right guard has no NFL experience but is expected to hit the ground running on Day 1. The tackle play bookending this interior is extremely suspect, meaning the guys in the middle might have to pull some extra weight for the offense to stay afloat in 2025.
Cowboys’ strength at IOL: Depth
The Cowboys aren’t just rich at the top of the depth chart but they are as deep as any team in the league this year. Backup interior players, Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass, are proven performers. They may not have the ceiling of the starters, but they are capable players with position flex on their resumes.
As if that wasn’t enough Dallas added Saadiq Charles and Robert Jones to the mix over the offseason. Both players have physical traits and starting experience behind them. The Cowboys are potentially elite in the starting ranks and elite in overall depth.
Cowboys’ weakness at IOL: Center contingency plans
There’s plenty of reason to believe Beebe will take a step forward in his development and become one of the better centers in the NFL in Year 2. But if he doesn’t progress, moves to guard, or falls to injury, all the eggs are in Hoffman’s basket.
Hoffman is a nasty player and a fan favorite, but based on Dallas’ actions over the offseason, he’s probably seen by the team as a below average starter with limited upside. He’s a fine option in a pinch but not someone who can be a difference maker in the middle of the line. The Cowboys are pinning a lot of hope on Beebe.
Cowboys’ wildcard at IOL: a trickledown effect
The wildcard isn’t so much a player as it is a scenario. Something discussed, almost nauseatingly at this point, is the Cowboys situation at left tackle. If Tyler Guyton can’t perform and Asim Richards can’t adequately replace him, Tyler Smith may be called upon to take over.
Even though Smith has more upside as a generational LG someday, he’s also widely considered the best OT on the roster right now. The Cowboys want to keep him inside but if things get disastrous at LT, he’s likely the answer. This would have a trickledown effect on the IOL and push either Bass, Charles or Jones into the starting lineup. Luckily depth happens to be the strength of interior offensive line and the Cowboys are abnormally prepared for such a colossal adjustment.
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