The Dallas Cowboys have found themselves an unexpected bright spot in the early days of the 2025 training camp, as Nathan Thomas, a second-year offensive tackle, is impressing coaches, reporters, and analysts across the board. Previously a forgotten man after missing his entire rookie season due to injury, Thomas is now firmly on the radar as a potential “steal” from the 2024 draft class. While its a year later than originally intended, Thomas’ emergence could still play a big role in Dallas.
The Cowboys entered camp with several fresh faces along the offensive line and plenty of competition for roster spots. Nathan Thomas, a seventh-round pick in 2024, was not initially the focus of much attention, especially after sitting out his rookie year with knee tendinitis. But according to a recent report from Nick Harris at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, head coach Brian Schottenheimer singled Thomas out as someone “to watch out for,” highlighting his recovery, work ethic, and positional flexibility. Schottenheimer noted, “He’s a big guy that’s hard to get around… love the flexibility that he brings,” and emphasized Thomas’s performance at multiple spots, with a strong showing at tackle.
What makes Thomas’s resurgence more than just anecdotal is the data. Using data collected from Pro Football Focus (PFF), Thomas’s 2023 collegiate performance was compared to other notable rookie tackles from the 2024 draft. The results are eye-catching:
The value gap here is massive: Thomas, as a seventh-round selection, is producing at or above the level of players taken much earlier. This speaks to Thomas’ potential while also serving as a testament to the Cowboys’ scouting department (Will McClay continues to be underrated).
Thomas’ potential emergence doesn’t necessarily mean he has to be or will be a starter. Depth and flexibility on the offensive line are critical for contending NFL teams, and the Cowboys know injuries can derail even the best-laid plans. Thomas is not projected to supplant established starters like Terence Steele, but his emergence as a reliable swing tackle, someone who can fill in at either left or right tackle in a pinch, could make the difference in a 17 game season.
This time of year the “shiny new toy” fallacy takes hold. The newest players dominate the headlines and attention. But sometimes its the year 2 or year 3 guys taking big leaps that end up providing massive value to a franchise. These young players are still cheap on the salary cap and also have the added benefit of at least being with the organization for more than one year. Players that fit this bill, like Nathan Thomas, provide incredible value despite not drawing a lot of attention.
While Thomas is very unlikely to grab a starting job out of training camp, expect him to play a key role throughout preseason and as a vital backup during the regular season. The Cowboys will continue cross-training him at multiple spots on the line, leveraging his size, intelligence, and above-average athleticism. As Dallas chases a deep playoff run, Thomas could prove to be the kind of depth piece that gets called upon in big moments.
Disclaimer: The content of this article was originally published as a YouTube video on the SMI Cowboys Show YouTube channel. With AI assistance, the publisher of the video created this article based on the content of that video.
