Jerry Jones' $96 million investment at guard is already paying off according to executives around the league

Tyler Smith just gave Jerry Jones all the validation he needs.

ESPN's annual position rankings, compiled by polling league executives, coaches, and scouts, have the Cowboys guard as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in football heading into 2026. He moved up one spot from last year to take the crown.

Dallas heavily backed the 25-year-old in September 2025 with a four-year, $96 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid guard in the NFL. The 2022 first-round pick out of Tulsa started his career at tackle before moving inside, and he has completely lived up to the price tag. 

With three straight Pro Bowls and a 2023 All-Pro nod, he has firmly established himself as the best in the game. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Smith gets paid like the best because he plays like it. 

His numbers, blocking successfully on 72.1% of run plays and 95.2% of passes, aren't the absolute highest in the league, but the game film shows his real dominance.

As one AFC executive noted, Smith has a "rare combination of size, athleticism, strength and finish." The exec even compared him to a legendary offensive lineman, saying, "He's like prime Jason Peters playing guard." Another executive added, "He has more flash plays than anybody.”

That comparison carries some real history. Peters was a nine-time Pro Bowler who actually played his final NFL season with Dallas back in 2022, mentoring Smith during his rookie year.

However, evaluators noted that Smith still needs to clean up his technique and play with more control, which makes sense since he is still perfecting the transition from tackle to guard.

His undeniable talent allowed him to jump all the way to the top spot, passing Kansas City center Creed Humphrey, who fell to third, while Colts star Quenton Nelson took the No. 2 spot. 

Without any doubt, he gives Dallas a foundational piece to protect Dak Prescott and anchor the running game. The front office took a massive financial decision by making him the highest-paid guard in football. And the league's top talent evaluators agree the decision was worth every penny. 

More NFL news: 

• Josh Allen earns honor Patrick Mahomes held for years
• Jerry Jones could soon face an unexpected Christian Parker problem
• Dak Prescott gets positive George Pickens update before Cowboys camp
• NFL coaches admit they were wrong about one part of Lamar Jackson's game
• Cowboys lack a proven one-on-one winner off the edge and training camp may expose that fast