For most NFL personnel men, faced with the hypothetical of choosing between Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jason Peters and Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Tyron Smith, their answer would likely wind up being something along the lines of; "Either. I don't care. Just give me one. Now."
Of course, some might prefer Smith due to age - the former top-10 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft is just 24, whereas Peters, an undrafted free agent tight end out of Arkansas over a decade ago, is now 33 - and some may swing Peters' way due to his experience and consistent high-level performance - he's now got seven Pro Bowls and two first-team All Pro selections to his name.
But in the end, both players are highly thought of and, if they were to suddenly become available, would be highly sought after. Still, making a choice between the two - as one unnamed NFL executive recently did - would likely be an exercise in subjectivity. The beauty of offensive linemen is very much in the eye of the beholder after all - or something.
Said unnamed NFL executive, who recently spoke to Mark Eckel of NJ.com, surprisingly felt like the choice was a pretty easy one.
"Peters,'' the executive said, "yeah he's still real good, probably the best. He's just a physical freak. You talk to our guys about him they'll tell you he's the best. People talk about Tyron Smith in Dallas. He's good, but I'll still take Peters.
That's got to be a little hard for fans in Dallas to hear and it's probably a sentiment they're not exactly readily willing to accept. Much of the talk concerning their franchise this season has centered on the loss of running back DeMarco Murray - to Philadelphia, no less - and the expectation that the Cowboys powerful, road-grating offensive line, led by Smith, would make up for much of the drop-off in talent from Murray to Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden.
Still, Peters - very much the cliched "dancing bear" so often associated with athletic offensive lineman - is a potential Hall of Famer and likely to go down as one of the best offensive tackles in NFL history. He suffered a pair of Achilles tears in recent seasons and there was concern amongst the Philly fanbase and media that perhaps the injuries were simply precursors to a precipitous end to the aging tackle's NFL career.
Peters' play last season, en route to his seventh Pro Bowl selection, likely quelled much of that concern. The preference of Eckel's unnamed NFL personnel executive only serves to quash those fears further.
In the end though, Smith very much represents the future of the Cowboys and the NFC East, while Peters is one of the last of the old guard.
The mammoth Eagles lineman will likely do everything in his power to squeeze every last drop of NFL play out of his legs and knees and shoulders, but at some point, the body will simply no longer be willing, even if the mind is able.
Once that eventuality comes to pass, Smith will undoubtedly be the best tackle in the division and depending on his development and work ethic, very possibly the conference or even the league.
