The 2025 NFL Draft is rolling along with more than a dozen picks already announced in Green Bay. With the 12th pick, the Dallas Cowboys found themselves on the clock. Dallas had a few different directions they could have gone — including drafting an offensive playmaker to help quarterback Dak Prescott or moving the pick altogether.
But they chose a different path. Dallas held onto their pick and used it to select Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker.
How Tyler Booker Fits on Cowboys’ Offensive Line
Booker most recently starred for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He established himself as one of the top interior offensive linemen in the class and was widely projected as an early-to-mid first-round selection — for good reason.
“If you’re looking for a sturdy anchor at guard who can dish out punishment as well as he can absorb it, Tyler Booker is your guy. With a low center of gravity and a thick, well-proportioned frame, Booker is very tough to move at the point of attack,” wrote PFSN’s Ian Cummings in his scouting report.
“His powerful lower half helps him neutralize power rushes along the interior, and his flexibility helps him maximize his power. Booker won’t necessarily wow you in space, though he did look a bit quicker after he lost weight before the 2024 season. His hand placement needs work, but there’s a lot to like in his game elsewhere.”
Dallas has invested heavily in its offensive line in recent years. Tyler Smith, a first-rounder in 2022, is a key part of that unit. Tackle Tyler Guyton and center Cooper Beebe were both drafted in 2024. Adding Booker gives the Cowboys another long-term interior presence.
“Tyler Booker comes in as our second-ranked interior offensive lineman (iOL) in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he and the top iOL are separated by only one spot on the big board,” Cummings added. “Both are top-20 caliber prospects, and any choice between them is essentially a matter of preference and positional value.”
“Booker is a guard, and only a guard. And he plays the guard position better than anyone in the class. He’s a massive phone-booth blocker at 6’5”, 321 pounds, with 34.5-inch arms, 11-inch hands, and surprising flexibility and knee bend for his size.”
Dallas clearly values keeping Prescott protected moving forward. Adding Booker to an already-reinforced offensive line helps that goal. It’ll be interesting to see whether the Cowboys continue adding help on offense in the rest of the 2025 NFL Draft.