The Dallas Cowboys are regarded as one of the best drafting teams in the NFL. However, their track record hasn't been as strong of late, fueling growing skepticism every time commissioner Roger Goodell steps to the podium to announce their pick.
Last year's draft was no different. To say fans balked at drafting Alabama guard Tyler Booker at No. 12 overall would be selling it short. While guard became a need following the retirement of the great Zack Martin, the positional value made it hard to justify.
Given the Cowboys' hit rate on first-round offensive linemen, perhaps fans should have trusted the process. Very quietly, Booker put together an outstanding rookie campaign, and that was reflected in CBS Sports' 2025 rookie class rankings.
Ironically, Dallas checked in at No. 12. Here is what writer Josh Edwards had to say about Booker's season:
"Booker became more and more comfortable as the season progressed and settled in nicely as a starter for the Cowboys. TruMedia credits him with three sacks allowed on nearly 600 pass blocking snaps."
Dallas Cowboys fans deserve to eat crow about Tyler Booker
Edwards also had high praise for second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku and more measured feedback on third-rounder Shavon Revel Jr. But the real takeaway here is Booker.
Considering how many teams assembled stacked draft classes, landing at No. 12 is actually flattering for the Cowboys. The backlash to the Booker pick alone set the stage for Dallas to fall into the 20–32 range.
Among guards who logged at least 600 pass-blocking snaps, Booker's 25 pressures allowed were the seventh-fewest, per Pro Football Focus. He allowed the fourth-fewest hurries (15), just seven quarterback hits, and he's credited with only three sacks allowed. To put the cherry on top, his 76.8 run-blocking grade ranked 8th out of 81 interior linemen.
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Nobody would be surprised if Booker earns a Pro Bowl nod next season. Still just 21 years old, he's only going to get stronger, and he'll have a full offseason to sharpen his craft. The fact that we're already talking about milestones speaks to how quickly the narrative has flipped since draft night.
Booker was hardly a sexy pick, but he was the smart choice. Replacing potential future Hall of Famers typically takes years, and the Cowboys managed it in a draft where they could have justified taking a wide receiver, a cornerback, or an edge rusher instead of Booker.
The timing couldn’t be better with Dallas holding the No. 12 and No. 20 picks this year. You could argue the front office has never faced more pressure to nail its first-round selections.
Fortunately, it will head into April riding a wave of momentum after landing a cornerstone player in Booker.