By Cowboys Insider | PML Coverage
Frisco, TX — From Left to Right, Still Dominant
When the Dallas Cowboys selected Kaydn Proctor with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 PML Draft, they didn’t just draft a tackle — they drafted an identity.
The 6’7”, 330-pound mauler from Alabama came to Dallas with the pedigree of a franchise left tackle, but Head Coach Cody Hirsch and OL Coach Mike Solari saw something more — the power and temperament to dominate from the right side of the line.
Weeks into camp, that vision has become reality. Proctor has officially moved from LT to RT and is expected to start from day one, filling the massive hole left by Terrance Steele’s departure.
“Kaydn’s not just adjusting — he’s excelling,” Hirsch said. “He’s the kind of player you can build around for the next decade.”
A Calculated Move: From Blind Side to Power Side
At Alabama, Proctor protected quarterbacks’ blind sides and faced the nation’s toughest pass rushers week after week. But when he arrived in Dallas, the staff saw a different fit.
With Tyler Guyton solidified at left tackle and the right side needing an anchor, the Cowboys made a bold switch — moving Proctor to RT.
His combination of mass, punch strength, and leverage makes him the perfect run-side tackle for Dallas’ physical, ground-control offense.
“Right tackle fits his mentality,” said Coach Solari. “That’s where you want your tone-setter. He’s violent at the point of attack and built to move people.”
Immediate Impact: Plug-and-Play Protection
Since rookie minicamp, Proctor has taken every first-team rep at right tackle. The transition has been seamless — thanks in part to his familiarity with fellow Crimson Tide lineman Tyler Booker, now starting at right guard.
The chemistry between the two has been instant. They communicate pre-snap like veterans, and their combined size and strength create a physical wall on the strong side.
“We know each other’s tendencies,” Proctor said. “We came up in a system that demanded precision, toughness, and pride. That’s the same energy Coach Hirsch wants here.”
Scouting Breakdown
- Height/Weight: 6’7”, 330 lbs
- Strengths: Anchor power, hand leverage, nasty run blocker, disciplined footwork
- Weaknesses: Still adapting to mirrored technique on right side
- NFL Comparison: Trent Brown — overpowering mass with underrated agility
Exclusive: Kaydn Proctor Draft Q&A
Following his selection by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2026 PML Draft, Kaydn Proctor sat down with Cowboys Insider for a brief conversation about his journey, his new role, and his mindset heading into his rookie year.
Q: First off, welcome to Dallas. What was your reaction when you got the call from Coach Hirsch and heard you were a Cowboy?
Proctor: “It was unreal. I grew up watching Dallas — the star, the history, the great linemen who came before me. When Coach Hirsch called, I just felt ready. I knew this was the right place. He told me, ‘We’re gonna build around toughness,’ and that’s exactly how I play.”
Q: You were a left tackle at Alabama, but Dallas immediately moved you to right tackle. What was that conversation like?
Proctor: “Coach Hirsch and Coach Solari were upfront. They said, ‘We’ve got Tyler Guyton on the left, and we need someone to lock down the right side.’ For me, that wasn’t a problem — I’ll play anywhere if it helps us win. My size and strength fit that side perfectly. It’s more about attitude than position.”
Q: What’s been the biggest challenge in switching sides?
Proctor: “Footwork — everything’s mirrored. Your muscle memory fights you early on. But once I got reps with the guys — Booker, Beebe, Tyler Smith — it started clicking. The communication on this line is special. We move as one.”
Q: The Cowboys’ offense is known for physicality and balance. How do you see yourself fitting into that identity?
Proctor: “That’s what I love about it. This isn’t a finesse team — we set the tone. Coach Hirsch wants to run through people, not around them. I take pride in that. If we’re running behind me, I want to make sure defenders feel it every time.”
Q: What are your personal goals for your rookie season?
Proctor: “Earn respect. From my teammates first, then the league. I don’t care about awards or stats — I just want to protect our quarterback, dominate my blocks, and be consistent every Sunday. That’s how you build trust in this locker room.”
Q: Cowboys fans love linemen with an edge — Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, Larry Allen. Do you feel pressure stepping into that legacy?
Proctor: “Pressure? No. Motivation? Absolutely. Those guys set the standard, but Coach Hirsch always says, ‘Don’t copy the standard — become it.’ That’s what I’m working toward.”
Cowboys’ New Wall: The Reconstructed Right Side
With Tyler Booker at right guard and Kaydn Proctor at right tackle, Dallas’ offensive line has regained the physicality it once dominated with in the 2010s.
Proctor’s arrival gives Joe Milton III and the running back trio of Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, and Hunter Luepke a new level of comfort. In practice, the offense has already started leaning into its power identity — running directly behind Proctor and Booker on early downs.
“That side’s heavy, mean, and young,” Hirsch said. “It’s everything we envisioned when we drafted him.”
Final Word: The Right Move
In the Cowboys’ modern rebuild under Coach Hirsch, the trenches have become the foundation — and Kaydn Proctor is now the cornerstone of that foundation.
A left tackle by history, a right tackle by design, and a leader by nature — Proctor’s transition represents more than a position switch. It represents the Cowboys’ renewed identity: big, physical, and unapologetically dominant.
“We didn’t just find a right tackle,” Hirsch said. “We found the next great Cowboy lineman.”
