Of the eight players drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, center Cooper Beebe stood out as the best pick. He started 16 games in his rookie season, missing only one due to a concussion sustained against the Bengals. When on the field, he played every snap at center, logging more game time than any of the team’s other rookies.
His transition to center was impressive, especially considering he had never played the position in a live game before. Beebe, originally a guard at Kansas State, adapted quickly to his new role.
In the 2024 season, he was credited with a fumble recovery in a loss to the 49ers and was involved in a botched snap that Cooper Rush recovered in a win over Washington. More notably, he was penalized just three times all year—twice for holding and once for being an ineligible receiver downfield. By comparison, first-round pick Tyler Guyton at left tackle had 14 penalties, including five games with multiple infractions.
While Beebe experienced some growing pains in pass and run blocking—expected for a rookie—he delivered a strong overall performance. He has a long road ahead before reaching the level of Cowboys greats like Travis Frederick, Mark Stepnoski, Tom Rafferty, or John Fitzgerald, but he’s already showing the potential to be a long-term leader on the offensive line.
2025 Season Outlook
After a solid rookie campaign, Beebe is expected to retain his starting role at center. At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, he embodies the toughness of a Kansas farm boy, though he actually hails from Kansas City, Kansas. Notably, he remains the only NFL player ever to come from Piper High School, a distinction he’ll likely hold for some time.
If he continues to develop, particularly by learning from Brock Hoffman’s approach to offensive line play, Beebe could grow into a dominant force at the position.
Long-Term Outlook
Dallas has a history of strong centers, though none have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In fact, only three Cowboys offensive linemen—Larry Allen, Forrest Gregg, and Rayfield Wright—have made it to Canton, all of whom played tackle.
Beebe still has a long way to go to be considered among the best centers in Cowboys history, let alone among the league’s all-time greats. Only 10 centers have been inducted into the Hall of Fame out of 327 total players.
For now, he appears to be Dallas’ long-term answer at center. If he continues progressing—especially as the Cowboys work toward a more balanced offensive attack—he could be a cornerstone of the line for years to come.
