The Dallas Cowboys agreed to trade offensive tackle Nate Thomas to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2027 seventh-round draft pick, according to team announcements ahead of the NFL roster cutdown deadline on August 30, 2026. The transaction alters the depth of the Dallas offensive line following a preseason acquisition.
Roster Shuffling and the Departure of Nate Thomas
Nate Thomas, a 25-year-old offensive lineman, joined the Dallas Cowboys as a seventh-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Louisiana, standing at 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds, according to Cowboys Wire. After spending his rookie year on the reserve/injured list, Thomas appeared in all 17 games for Dallas during the 2025 season, making four starts primarily at left tackle. Across his career, he has also worked as a swing tackle capable of playing on both sides of the line, as reported by team officials.
Entering the 2026 training camp, head coach Brian Schottenheimer stated that Thomas would compete with former first-round pick Tyler Guyton for the starting left tackle position. However, after weeks of evaluation, the coaching staff opted to keep Guyton with the starting unit due to consistency issues from Thomas. According to Schottenheimer, the team communicated directly with Thomas regarding the need for elevated performance.
“We talked to Nate and we said, ‘Nate needs to show us a little bit more consistency to compete for that job,'” Schottenheimer said, as noted in team transcripts. “And I know we had talked to you guys about the rotation, so Tyler [Guyton] is going to stay at left tackle. I’m excited to see how Nate handles that challenge. But Tyler is playing really, really well.”
Front Office Strategy and Offensive Line Depth
The trade materializes shortly after the Cowboys reinforced their tackle group by acquiring Broderick Jones from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a separate trade. Jones, a former first-round pick with experience on both the left and right sides of the line, adds established veteran depth to a unit that also features Terence Steele and fourth-round selection Drew Shelton.
Dallas owner and general manager Jerry Jones outlined the franchise’s overarching plan for the offensive line following the team’s final preseason game against the New Orleans Saints.
“We’ve looked at some players that we could make some tweaks if we needed to,” Jerry Jones said. “But we’ve got a good plan. We’ll see where we go from here; this isn’t finished yet.”
For Houston, the addition of Thomas provides an opportunity for the young lineman to compete for extended playing time. Meanwhile, the Cowboys finalize their initial 53-player roster ahead of the league-wide deadline.
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