Smith and Booker anchor an offensive line that no longer needs miracle-level play to function. Here is why Big D’s interior blocking could quietly decide the NFC East in 2026.
For the first time in years, the Dallas Cowboys do not need a miracle on the offensive line. They have a plan, two pillars to build around, and a head coach who is not shy about saying it out loud.
Left guard Tyler Smith and right guard Tyler Booker enter the 2026 season as the most dangerous interior duo in the NFC East. The rest of the division knows it. The film says so too.
There is no bigger name at the guard position in the NFL right now. Smith is a three-time Pro Bowler, a Second-team All-Pro, and the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in league history. His four-year, $96 million extension, signed in September 2025, says everything about what the Cowboys believe.
“I think he’s the best guard in football. I don’t think I’m overselling him. I really think he is.”
— Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer, via Fox Sports
Smith posted a 73.5 overall PFF grade in 2025, ranking 15th among 81 qualified guards. His run-blocking grade of 81.1 was fifth best in the entire NFL at his position. He played 1,110 snaps in 2025 alone.
When asked whether he prefers left guard or left tackle, Smith did not hesitate. He told the Dallas Cowboys official website: “I’m an All-Pro guard, bro.” Dallas is happy to keep him exactly there in 2026.
| Category | Stat | NFL Rank (Guards) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall PFF Grade | 73.5 | 15th of 81 |
| Run-Block Grade | 81.1 | 5th of 81 |
| Pass-Block Grade | 65.4 | 30th of 81 |
| Total Snaps | 1,110 | Full starter |
| Sacks Allowed | 3 | — |
| Total Pressures Allowed | 26 | — |
| Pro Bowl Selections | 3 (2023, 2024, 2025) | — |
| Contract Value | $96M / 4 years | No. 1 interior OL in NFL |
Smith is signed through 2030. He is not going anywhere, and the Cowboys built their offensive future around that certainty.
Dallas used the 12th overall pick in the 2025 draft on Booker, and fans questioned the move. Right guard with that selection? Many wanted a skill player. The Cowboys did not flinch.
Booker answered every doubt in his rookie season. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, becoming the first Cowboys rookie to earn that honor since Smith himself did in 2022, per the Dallas Cowboys official site. He finished as the 16th-ranked guard in the entire NFL in his very first season.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I know there’s a lot I have to improve on in order to be seen as a contributor on this team. I knew the struggles would come, but I’m prepared to handle any adversity that comes my way.”
— Tyler Booker, via Athlon Sports (2025 Training Camp)
That mindset paid off. Booker logged 1,003 snaps as a rookie, the most of any rookie interior lineman in the league that year. He allowed just three sacks on 631 pass-blocking snaps. His pass-block win rate was 93.7 percent, comfortably above the league average for guards.
| Category | Stat | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Overall PFF Grade | 72.0 | 16th of 81 guards |
| Run-Block Grade | 76.8 | 7th of 81 guards |
| Pass-Block Win Rate | 93.7% | Above league average (ESPN) |
| Total Snaps | 1,003 | Most by any rookie interior OL |
| Sacks Allowed | 3 | On 631 pass-blocking snaps |
| Total Pressures Allowed | 25 | Top tier for all RGs |
| Awards | PFWA All-Rookie Team | First Cowboy since T. Smith (2022) |
| Draft Position | No. 12 overall, 2025 | Alabama |
Blogging the Boys noted that when Booker was on the field, the Cowboys’ run success rate increased by 5.2 percent compared to snaps without him. That number matters more than any highlight.
Together, Smith and Booker give Dallas something it has not had since Zack Martin and Smith were both in their prime. The Cowboys now have two above-average guards flanking a steady Cooper Beebe at center. That is a real interior line.
Inside The Star wrote that Dallas finally has “a young group worth believing in” heading into 2026. That belief is grounded in production, not hope. Two first-round picks. Two All-Rookie nominees. Two players locked into the same system under the same coaching staff.
“In a perfect world for Dallas, Smith and Tyler Booker will anchor a dominant interior offensive line for years to come.”
— Bleacher Report, September 2025
Yahoo Sports reported that Booker is widely viewed as a player with “All-Pro talent” inside the Cowboys building. The second-year leap is a real thing in the NFL. If Booker takes it, he and Smith could become the top guard tandem in the entire NFC.
Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens get the headlines. But football games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage. No one in the NFC East has an interior OL pairing that matches Smith and Booker right now.
Inside The Star said it plainly: “The offensive line still decides whether this team competes for the NFC East or spends another season fighting for a wildcard spot.” With Smith and Booker in front of Prescott, the Cowboys have reason to believe the answer will be different in 2026.
2026 Projected Cowboys Starting Offensive Line:
- LT: Tyler Guyton (2024 1st-round pick)
- LG: Tyler Smith (2022 1st-round pick, 3x Pro Bowl)
- C: Cooper Beebe (entering 3rd season)
- RG: Tyler Booker (2025 1st-round pick, PFWA All-Rookie)
- RT: Terence Steele (91 career starts)
Tyler Smith expressed urgency entering 2026. He told the Cowboys official website: “You can nix the last 30 years. Winning is about what’s important now. I want to win now. It’s not just about me. Our sense of urgency is extreme.”
Smith and Booker are not just blocking for Prescott. They are blocking for a franchise that has waited too long. Training camp in 2026 will tell the full story, but the pieces are already in place. Big D’s interior line duo may be the most overlooked advantage in the entire NFC East.
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