Cowboys must prioritize 3rd-round pick's ceiling in potential OL shuffle

Getting the best five offensive linemen on the field is a goal of most NFL teams.

Theres typically a touch of overlap along the offensive line, so many players who man one position often have the ability to move over and play another.

Position flex allows offensive line coaches to mix and match combinations that maximize effectiveness of the unit as a whole, even if it may not favor a specific players best interests long-term.The 2025 Dallas Cowboys potentially face a situation such as this with second-year center Cooper Beebe.

Beebe, a former guard in college, transitioned to the center spot as a rookie after Tyler Biadaszs departure created the vacancy.

With Zack Martin and Tyler Smith entrenched at the guard spots, it made sense for the Cowboys to try Beebe out in the middle.

It got the best five linemen on the field and covered a major hole in the process.

It also fit Beebe's athletic profile a little better since some questioned Beebe's measurables at guard.

At the end of the day, it was a win-win.In 2025 the situation has changed.

Martin is now retired and Beebes natural position of guard is open for competition.

Last season Brock Hoffman filled in admirably when Martin was injured, but by no means did he slam the door shut for competition this year.

Hoffman won the team over through his grit and surliness.

As a pure technician he was average at best.

Hoffmans more natural position is center, so it stands to reason hed be a better option in the middle where strength and athleticism are less of a factor, and Beebes a better option at guard since thats what he played at Kansas State.In the Cowboys quest to get the five best linemen on the field they may find themselves focused on the wrong guy.

Hoffman may be better inside at center but in the long run so might Beebe.

Beebes primary weakness in his 2024 draft profile was his arm length.

The Athletics Dane Brugler called it a potential deal breaker for some teams.

His move to center circumvented that weakness.Short arms arent much of a problem at center, making Beebes weakness null and void.

With the potential to grow into one of the NFLs best centers, is a move back to his natural guard position a wise move?Cooper Beebe double tap pic.twitter.com/Tl9v4IZ4g9 Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) August 18, 2024Looking at the landscape today, Beebe appears to have a brighter future with the Cowboys than Hoffman.

Beebe has the higher athletic ceiling, hes younger and hes under contract longer.

Hoffmans a free agent after the upcoming season and faces an extremely uncertain future.

Based on circumstances the Cowboys should make their positional decisions focused on the more important player.

If they determine Beebe can be someone special at center one day, then its a position the guy should probably stick with.This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Dallas Cowboys' interior OL decisions must center Beebe's best spot.

This article has been shared from the original article on yahoo, here is the link to the original article:

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2025/03/25/cowboys-center-cooper-beebe-brock-hoffman/82641370007/