One of the biggest storylines going into Dallas Cowboys training camp was expected to be how first-round rookie Tyler Guyton fared against All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons in practice.
Naturally, the rookie was considered the underdog against the defensive force that's been consistently in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation since arriving at the Cowboys in 2021.
Well... it turns out Guyton came in a little bit more ready to go than many would've imagined and straight up beat Parsons on several reps on Tuesday, the first day in pads.
Fortunately for fans, those with boots in the ground at Oxnard, California, took us into the heart of practice with video of every matchup. Now it's time to enjoy and break them down.
Clip #1: Micah Parsons gets walled by Tyler Guyton
In the play below, Parsons gets out of his stance smoothly in time to catch the speedy pass rusher. Guyton does a great job with his feet keeping up with Parsons without turning his shoulders in a way that would get him beat and instead stays square on No. 11. His outside hand does the rest of the job with a solid punch on Parsons.
Notice Parsons' body language at the end of the rep. That's a competitive man that knows he just got beat by the rookie.
Coming out of Oklahoma, a lot has been made about Guyton's impressive lateral mobility as a former basketball athlete and he shows it big-time in this particular rep. It might not look like much for some fans, but it's a big win for him.
Clip #2: Your moves don't work here, Micah!
This play should get fans excited. Parsons might not be known as a power rusher but his speed allows him to get into power moves efficiently on gamedays. In this rep, Guyton shows explosive movement while never getting out of balance and his hand placement looks perfect, shows very good anchor and gets his hands to Parsons' chest. The latter tries to spin out of the way but there's nothing he can do at that point.
Clip #3: More speed from Guyton
A common theme in these plays is how comfortable Guyton looks getting to his landmarks in pass pro and his ability to stay with Parsons without oversetting or turning his shoulders. The play below is yet another example of that as the defensive superstar tries a rip move on the rookie to no effect whatsoever. This one is a bit more of a stalemate but the edge goes to the rookie as he keeps Micah away from Dak Prescott.
Online, some have wrongly accused Guyton of holding Micah: As soon as a rip move is attempted, there can be no holding on the tackle.
Clip #4: Take him out of the play
Last but certainly not least, look at Guyton completely escorting Parsons out of the play. Remember that a tackle's job in pass pro is to set the width of the pocket. If an edge rusher "breaks free" 10 yards into the backfield and the quarterback is taking a quick, three-step drop, chances are the defender just took himself out of the play.
Circling back to the rookie's lateral mobility, Parsons shows an elite get-off here and Guyton still finds a way to catch him while staying square on him. The latter gets his hands on the defender while playing long with his arms fully extended and pushing Parsons deep into the backfield.
Consider this a message to the coaching staff, which is "soft-launching" Guyton's career by having him work with the second team to get him to earn the starting role. Is it always going to be this pretty? Probably not.
But the first-round rookie proved today that he deserves the spot over Chuma Edoga after showing off against Parsons in his first day of pads as an NFL player. It's safe to say working with Duke Manyweather has once again helped a Cowboys OL develop quicker than expected.
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