Dallas Cowboys trade 1st round pick with Detroit Lions, select Oklahoma OL Tyler Guyton with No. 29 overall pick

DALLAS — The Dallas Cowboys traded their first round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to the Detroit Lions. 

It marked the 72nd draft-day trade for the Cowboys in the Jerry Jones era (since 1989). Here is a look at the history of Dallas’ draft-day trades. 

The Lions selected Alabama corner Terrion Arnold with the No. 24 overall pick. Dallas received Detroit’s 29th pick and 73rd overall pick (third round), according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. The Lions also got a 2025 7th round pick in the trade.

With the No. 29 overall pick from Detroit, the Dallas Cowboys selected Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton. 

Guyton went to high school in Central Texas at Manor High School. He originally committed to TCU and played two seasons for the Horned Frogs before transferring to the Oklahoma Sooners in 2022. Guyton played 20 career games at OU, starting 14 of those 20.

He allowed just two sacks on 548 career pass-blocking plays, according to his OU profile.

Guyton was the seventh offensive tackle taken in the NFL Draft, part of what many experts considered a deep offensive line class.

Here is the analysis of Guyton by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: 

“Ascending tackle prospect with the traits and tape to project a bright future as a high-level pass protector in the league. Guyton has battled injuries and had limited reps coming over from TCU after the 2021 season, but his flashes have been complemented by increasing consistency. He plays with a high center of gravity and needs to get stronger, but leveraged hand strikes can help overcome those concerns. He should continue to get better as a run blocker but might never shine in that department. Guyton’s value comes with his pass protection, as he has the length, feet and body control to become a human roadblock. He should become a talented starter at either tackle position.”

• Possesses athleticism for consideration at left or right tackle.
• Impressive movement pulling and getting into space as lead blocker.
• Hands are accurate and active in the battle to gain advantage after strike.
• Fundamentally sound pass slides with good balance and quickness.
• Good awareness to protect B-gap against T/E twists.
• Length and footwork makes it easier to keep athletic rushers in front of him.
• Is light on starting experience but heavy on coveted traits.
• Tall player who plays too tall, limiting his ability to drive and sustain.
• Despite his athleticism, misses targets in space more than he should.
• Will need to get stronger and keep his feet under his pads in run game.
• Has trouble pressing defenders out of his frame in protection.
• Could have issues finding his anchor against a leveraged bull rush.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones pointed to the offensive line depth in this year’s draft as one reason the club was satisfied with trading down and still landing their target in Guyton.

“That did work for us there,” Jones told reporters late Thursday night.

Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said Dallas had four players they “really liked” when sitting with the 24th pick. So they felt good about trading down five spots.

“It’s tense waiting,” Stephen Jones said. “There’s no question you’re taking some risk there, you’re believing in your board and you’re having patience. Certainly that paid off for us.”

Coach Mike McCarthy called Guyton “a great pick for us” to shore up the offensive line, which will be without longtime left tackle Tyron Smith, who left in free agency. Guyton, who played right tackle at Oklahoma, will slide to left tackle. But, as McCarthy pointed out, Guyton protected the quarterback’s blind side at Oklahoma — as he will in Dallas — since the Sooners’ quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, was left-handed.

“This is a great add to our offensive line room,” McCarthy said.

Here is a rundown of Dallas’ picks. Every round of the 2024 NFL Draft will be aired on WFAA. You can find more information on when to watch here. 

For more Cowboys coverage during the NFL Draft, continue to visit wfaa.com/cowboys.

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