Brian Schottenheimer made the assignment clear Monday at The Star: Broderick Jones will challenge Terence Steele for the Cowboys’ starting right tackle job, while Tyler Guyton remains with the first team on the left.
“When we made the trade, the first thing I did was I reached out to Terence Steele and told Terence that Broderick’s coming here to compete with him to be the starting right tackle,” Schottenheimer said, according to ESPN. “We’re not going to move Broderick around.”
Dallas acquired Jones and a 2027 fourth-round pick from Pittsburgh on Saturday for third- and sixth-round selections in 2027. The move gives the Cowboys a direct competition at one position with six practices remaining before the Sept. 13 opener against the New York Giants.
Guyton stays on the left
Schottenheimer also called Guyton to explain that the trade did not alter his standing. Guyton remains the first-team left tackle, with rookie Drew Shelton behind him.
“I wanted to make sure Tyler Guyton understood that this has nothing to do with him,” Schottenheimer said on the team’s website. “He’s playing his tail off, he’s doing great. … Right now, left tackle Tyler Guyton backed up by Drew [Shelton], and then right tackle is a competition between Terence and Broderick.”
The distinction matters after Nate Thomas competed with Guyton at left tackle during camp. Dallas later sent Thomas to Houston for a 2027 seventh-round pick. Jones, by contrast, will remain on the right rather than reopen the competition protecting Dak Prescott’s blind side.
Steele begins in front
Steele enters the competition with the advantage of experience and continuity. He has started 91 of 96 career games for Dallas, including the past 23 at right tackle, and has played nearly every offensive snap over the past two seasons. His revised offseason contract included a $10.5 million signing bonus.
Schottenheimer called Steele the “1A” at the position, a label that recognizes the incumbent without guaranteeing the job.
“So no one’s saying Terence isn’t going to be the starter, we’re saying that Broderick was brought here for a reason,” Schottenheimer said.
Managing Steele’s workload will be part of the evaluation. Schottenheimer said the veteran has “never asked for a rep off, ever,” but the staff must give both tackles enough work to make a decision without overloading Steele so close to the regular season.
“I wouldn’t bet against Terence Steele,” Schottenheimer said.
