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Getting the best five offensive linemen on the field is a goal of most NFL teams. There’s 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 Biadasz’s 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 Beebe’s 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. Hoffman’s more natural position is center, so it stands to reason he’d be a better option in the middle where strength and athleticism are less of a factor, and Beebe’s a better option at guard since that’s 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. Beebe’s primary weakness in his 2024 draft profile was his arm length. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler called it a potential “deal breaker” for some teams. His move to center circumvented that weakness.
Short arms aren’t much of a problem at center, making Beebe’s weakness null and void. With the potential to grow into one of the NFL’s best centers, is a move back to his natural guard position a wise move?
Looking at the landscape today, Beebe appears to have a brighter future with the Cowboys than Hoffman. Beebe has the higher athletic ceiling, he’s younger and he’s under contract longer. Hoffman’s 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 it’s 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
Continue reading...
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 Biadasz’s 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 Beebe’s 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. Hoffman’s more natural position is center, so it stands to reason he’d be a better option in the middle where strength and athleticism are less of a factor, and Beebe’s a better option at guard since that’s 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. Beebe’s primary weakness in his 2024 draft profile was his arm length. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler called it a potential “deal breaker” for some teams. His move to center circumvented that weakness.
Short arms aren’t much of a problem at center, making Beebe’s weakness null and void. With the potential to grow into one of the NFL’s best centers, is a move back to his natural guard position a wise move?
Looking at the landscape today, Beebe appears to have a brighter future with the Cowboys than Hoffman. Beebe has the higher athletic ceiling, he’s younger and he’s under contract longer. Hoffman’s 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 it’s 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
Continue reading...
