OL Notes: Guyton, Beebe, Cowboys, Commanders, LT, Raiders, Packers, Patriots

Tyler Smith delivering strong early returns at two positions — left tackle, left guard — gave the Cowboys options while constructing their draft board, and Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton became the team’s pick. The Guyton move points to Smith staying at guard. The Cowboys are set to give the ex-Sooners right tackle every opportunity to win the starting LT job, The Athletic’s Jon Machota notes (subscription required). Teams make the inverse move more often, with the college game’s top O-linemen most frequently coming from the left tackle spot. Guyton views himself as a more natural left tackle, however, and his development there will keep well-paid RT Terence Steele in place.

Trading down from No. 24 to 29, the Cowboys picked up an extra third-rounder (No. 73). Dallas used the latter pick on Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe, and Machota adds he profiles as the team’s Tyler Biadasz center replacement. Linked to Duke center prospect Graham Barton at No. 24, the Cowboys passed with the ex-Blue Devil on the board (Barton went to the Buccaneers at No. 26). Beebe vacillated between left tackle, right tackle and left guard with the Big 12 program. While Machota notes Beebe could be an eventual Zack Martin successor, he is on track to begin his career at center.

Here is the latest from O-lines around the league:

• The Raiders are making changes on the right side of their offensive line. Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor joined the Giants, and Greg Van Roten remains a free agent. The team used Day 2 of the draft to acquire Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson (Round 2) and Maryland’s Delmar Glaze (Round 3). In all likelihood, Powers-Johnson is ticketed for a starting guard role, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed. Glaze is set to begin his career at tackle, though GM Tom Telesco said (via ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez) guard work could also be in his future. Glaze will likely settle in as the Raiders’ swing tackle, according to The Athletic, though it is in play he could push Thayer Munford — who lost a position battle with Eluemunor last year — for the RT post.
• Washington made three second-round picks in this draft. The Commanders acquired a defensive tackle (Jer’Zhan Newton), a cornerback (Mike Sainristil) and a tight end (Ben Sinnott) in a busy Round 2. O-line finally came up in Round 3, with TCU’s Brandon Coleman chosen at No. 67. Projected by some as a likely candidate to slide to guard, Coleman will not make that move initially. The former national championship game starter will begin his Commanders run at tackle, ESPN.com’s John Keim notes. Coleman logged extensive time at LT and LG with the Horned Frogs, playing on the blind side during the team’s banner 2022 season. He joins a Washington team that released LT starter Charles Leno. With only swingman Cornelius Lucas in place on the left side, Coleman should have a chance to move from the third round to Jayden Daniels‘ blindside protector. Lucas (47 career starts) would be in place as insurance.
• As expected, Jordan Morgan will train at left tackle for the Packers. Matt LaFleur confirmed the No. 25 overall pick will begin his career there, and while The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman notes the team liked how 2022 seventh-rounder Rasheed Walker played in relief of David Bakhtiari, the first-round Morgan investment tips the team’s hand here. The Packers have assembled some depth post-Bakhtiari, with Andre Dillard in place as a potential swing option alongside the loser of this position battle.
• Chukwuma Okorafor and third-round Patriots pick Caedan Wallace are set to vie for the New England left tackle job. Before the draft, de facto GM Eliot Wolf said (via the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed) Okorafor — a longtime Steelers right tackle starter — stood as the Patriots’ starting LT. This will be a rather unique battle, as Wallace played all but six college snaps at right tackle. Wolf, however, views the Penn State product as a viable LT option, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss notes. The winner will likely be protecting Drake Maye‘s blind side at some point in 2024. Mike Onwenu is staying at right tackle.