The Dallas Cowboys are under pressure to bolster their offensive line by signing veteran tackle Braxton Jones, as concerns rise over the progress of their 2024 first-round pick, Tyler Guyton. With NFL free agency approaching, analysts argue that adding an experienced player like Jones could provide critical depth and competition in a position that has displayed inconsistency.
Although the Cowboys have primarily focused on strengthening their defense after a difficult 2025 season, the offensive line remains an area ripe for improvement. The team expects all 11 offensive starters to return, provided negotiations with franchise-tagged wide receiver George Pickens conclude favorably, yet bringing in added competition—especially at the offensive tackle position—could prove essential.
Recent Struggles Among Offensive Tackles Raise Alarm
Both Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele, Dallas’s main offensive tackles, faced challenges last season. Guyton has shown glimpses of promise but continues to battle inconsistency early in his NFL career. Steele, once considered one of the premier right tackles in the league, has yet to regain his form following a serious knee injury sustained in 2022.
Against this backdrop, K.D. Drummond from Cowboys Wire has recommended the Cowboys pursue Jones with a two-year deal worth $11 million, including a $3.7 million signing bonus.
“Jones turned in a tremendously solid 2024 season as a pass protector, with an 80.8 PFF grade, but only started four games in 2025 due to a knee injury. Signing him gives the club ultimate flexibility in training camp,” Drummond wrote. “It gives Dallas the chance to have a strong veteran LT if Tyler Guyton doesn’t improve, or if they choose to move him to RT to replace Terence Steele. The proposed contract is equivalent to what they are paying TJ Bass to be the top interior reserve with the second-round tender, just with an additional season.”
Braxton Jones’s Career and Potential Impact on Cowboys
Drafted in the fifth round from Southern Utah in 2022, Braxton Jones quickly established himself by starting all 17 games at left tackle during his rookie year. However, injuries, particularly a knee issue that limited him to only six games in 2025, have affected his continuity. Despite these setbacks, Jones has proven to be a capable and reliable starter when healthy.
Acquiring Jones would come with some risk due to his injury record, but he could offer the Cowboys essential versatility and veteran experience. Should Tyler Guyton’s development falter, Jones might step in as a starter or serve as a strong backup capable of filling either tackle spot, potentially replacing Steele on the right side if necessary. His flexibility could be invaluable in maintaining offensive line stability, which is critical for quarterback protection and sustaining offensive momentum.
The need to secure dependable depth at tackle is especially pressing given Guyton’s early-career injury concerns, suggesting that the Cowboys view Jones as a strategic insurance policy heading into training camp and the upcoming season.
