When Bill Belichick was at his best as a general manager, he excelled at unearthing hidden gems, turning other teams' castoffs into key cogs, and helping players revitalize their careers.
While Mike Vrabel doesn't have that official job title, we all know he's basically the man in charge in Foxboro (no disrespect to Eliot Wolf). And if he wants to follow in his former boss' footsteps, Vrabel must utilize creative ways and his motivational tactics to transform undervalued, underperforming players into reliable contributors.
And that's exactly why the New England Patriots need to keep a keen eye on what's going on in Dallas.
Former first-round pick Tyler Guyton faces uncertain future with the Cowboys
Two years ago, the Cowboys thought they had found their long-term left tackle when they drafted Tyler Guyton with the 29th overall pick. Expected to fill the void left by future Pro Football Hall of Famer Tyron Smith, the Oklahoma product didn't exactly live up to expectations as a rookie. Dealing with injuries and making the transition from collegiate right tackle to NFL blindside protector, Guyton allowed seven sacks and got flagged 18 times.
Unfortunately for both Guyton and the Cowboys, his 2025 season didn't go as planned, either. He only appeared in 10 games before Dallas placed him on injured reserve in late December due to an ankle injury. Guyton recorded a 57.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, allowing two sacks and 31 pressures while committing seven penalties.
Needless to say, the experiment hasn't exactly worked out well for either side thus far. And despite being a first-round pick just a few years ago, Guyton faces legitimate questions about his short- and long-term future with Jerry Jones' team.
In fact, Guyton headlined a list of Cowboys players whose roster spots aren't as safe as fans might think. That doesn't necessarily make him a cut candidate, but it's clear he's not a lock to be part of Dak Prescott's protection squad, either.
"Guyton had a massive decline in year two with Dallas. He had a 57.5 PFF grade in 2025, including a 50.5 pass block grade — which was only better than eight other qualified offensive tackles. He was a good run blocker, but Dak Prescott and this offense need reliable play in the passing game. Shelton could very well work his way to starting right tackle. Guyton’s leash is getting shorter the closer we get to Week 1. Don’t be shocked to see Jerry Jones send Guyton away while he still has some value," wrote Wynston Wilcox.
The Patriots could unlock Tyler Guyton's untapped potential
Releasing a former first-round pick before his third season would be quite a bold move, even by Jerry Jones' standards. However, the Cowboys could look to recoup some value by dealing Guyton for a conditional draft pick.
Enter: New England.
Sure, the Patriots just invested first-round picks on offensive linemen in consecutive drafts. However, is anyone really sure Will Campbell is the answer at left tackle? It's not a stretch to say he has a better chance of being an All-Pro guard (where his short arms wouldn't be as much of an issue) than an elite left tackle.
Meanwhile, rookie Caleb Lomu may actually be the better long-term answer as Drake Maye's blindside protector based on his athleticism and length. Plus, Lomu dominated at that position in college.
On the other hand, Guyton entered the league as a right tackle — and that's exactly why the Patriots should be interested in taking a flyer on him.
Morgan Moses remains entrenched as the team's starting right tackle — but not for long. Given his age, there's a good chance this is Moses' last season in Foxboro. While he's still here, the Patriots would be wise to let him mentor all the team's young linemen, and what better way to take advantage of those leadership qualities than to give Moses a new understudy?
At 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, Moses has a similar frame as the 6-foot-7, 322-pound Guyton. He's spent his entire NFL career at right tackle — the spot Guyton excelled at in college.
At the very least, trading a conditional Day 3 pick for a player who boasts an impressive physical skill set would be a worthwhile flyer. It's a low-risk, high-reward move that could help the Patriots bolster their depth and provide some upside for the future.
After all, giving decorated offensive line coach Doug Marrone a moldable piece of clay like Guyton (who just turned 25) could lead to big-time returns. Between Moses and Marrone, you have two seasoned pros who may be able to help the Texas native unlock his full potential.
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