Inside The Star
The Dallas Cowboys made a high-impact move for an enforcer in the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Tyler Booker, the rugged offensive lineman from Alabama, with the 12th overall pick.
Zack Martin’s retirement left Dallas needing a tone-setter on the interior offensive line, and Booker fits that mold perfectly.
He will be backed by a revamped coaching staff led by Conor Riley and Klayton Adams; Booker has a clear developmental path and the tools to thrive.
Booker is a classic road-grader in the game. His raw strength, pad level, and ability to generate push off the snap fit perfectly with the Cowboys’ downhill rushing philosophy.
I've seen some people say that Booker is so bad of an athlete that he cant perform blocks on the move…I'm so messy, here's him pulling, blocking Lb, CBs, and quick 3 techs. Then him mauling people towards the end. pic.twitter.com/UppcMxa7Ga
— Voch Lombardi (@VochLombardi) April 28, 2025
In three years at Alabama, starting in 2022, Booker played 1,035 pass-blocking snaps and gave up two sacks. He gave up zero sacks in 2024 while taking 395 pass-blocking snaps.
He uses a wide base, quick hands, and solid balance to lock down interior rushers, which is crucial for protecting Dak Prescott.
https://twitter.com/BobbyBeltTX/status/1915649959195541628
Booker enters the NFL with the mindset of a veteran. A team captain at Alabama, he brings mental toughness and a relentless motor, traits that Dallas prioritizes on the offensive line.
https://twitter.com/AlabamaFTBL/status/1825943413595975941?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1825943413595975941%7Ctwgr%5Ef80a9a19a91decdf710a55e95580d5eac69316ff%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ctinsider.com%2Fsports%2Farticle%2Falabama-football-tyler-booker-2024-schedule-cfb-19667125.php
Booker occasionally struggles when asked to mirror quicker pass rushers. Refining his speed and reaction timing will be key in the NFL.
https://twitter.com/MathBomb/status/1915726282198823333
While dominant at the line, Booker has room to grow when climbing to linebackers. Improving timing and positioning can help him finish plays more effectively.
https://twitter.com/MaxCohan/status/1915579938188779762
Booker can sometimes play on his heels and sometimes too much on his toes. He will have to figure out the balance issue.
Resolving this issue will help him against quicker defensive linemen who can sometimes get into his chest and stonewall him.
With Zack Martin retiring, Booker is expected to step into one of the most important and iconic positions on the Cowboys’ line: right guard.
Given Martin’s Hall of Fame-level production, it’s a massive role, but Booker offers the right mix of power, polish, and demeanor to grow into it.
His play style is less finesse-based and more power-driven than Martin’s, but under the right coaching, he has the potential to become a long-term anchor and enforcer on the offense.
Expect Booker to bring a more physical, tone-setting approach to the right side while he develops his footwork and technical consistency.
https://twitter.com/DLLS_Cowboys/status/1916216200180162854
Dallas’s new offensive line coach, Conor Riley, is known for building...
