One of the Dallas Cowboys' biggest perceived weaknesses might just be a legitimate strength

One of the biggest reasons why the Dallas Cowboys might be set to take a step backwards in the 2024 NFL season is the fact that their offensive line is plagued with question marks.

Tyron Smith is out of the picture and his place will be taken by first-round rookie Tyler Guyton, who is considered a long-term prospect that might struggle early on as his technique is far from refined. At center, the Cowboys are expected to hold an open battle for the starting role between third-round rookie Cooper Beebe and Brock Hoffman. Meanwhile, Terence Steele remains a question mark at right tackle after significant struggles last year.

Because of these unknowns, the Cowboys' offensive line has been labeled by many fans and media as a legit concern and even a possible weakness.

But Pro Football Focus' latest OL rankings provide some much needed perspective for a fanbase so desperate for playoff success that sometimes it loses perspective that this is a pretty good team we're talking about.

PFF ranked the Cowboys as the 10th best offensive line in the league, pointing out that the unit has one of the best guard duos in football.

"Although the Cowboys' offensive line had been among the five best units in the league for years, that position is in jeopardy going forward. The Cowboys let left tackle Tyron Smith and center Tyler Biadasz walk in free agency, and now rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton is set to replace Smith while Brock Hoffman is expected to play center.

It did not help Dallas that right tackle Terence Steele had a disappointing 2023 season coming back from injury. The team still has one of the better guard duos in Tyler Smith and Zack Martin, but it is unknown how much quality is around them. - Zoltán Buday, PFF

Now granted, PFF isn't the owner of the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Their read on this one might be somewhat off. But it's easy to treat a big question mark as the end of the world in the eyes of fans and the outside perspective of the Cowboys still having a Top 10 offensive line is eye-opening to say the least.

What is true is that the range of possible outcomes for the unit is pretty wild. If Guyton and Steele struggle on the edges, it won't matter how good the Cowboys are in the interior thanks to their All-Pro guards. However, if Steele bounces back from injuries and Guyton proves to be average or better, Dak Prescott and friends don't need much else to perform at a high level.

Keep in mind, Prescott has played behind banged-up offensive lines for a large portion of his career. Entering 2024, the Cowboys being a Top 10 offensive line isn't as far-fetched as many would think following the departure of Tyron Smith, who will play for the New York Jets before he heads to Canton, Ohio.

Related: Cowboys might be staring at every NFL team's worst nightmare if things don't work out in 2024