The Dallas Cowboys were universally panned for their decision to select Tyler Booker at pick No. 12 in the 2025 NFL Draft for several reasons. The biggest being that most draft analysts believed it was a major reach, as he was the No. 31 player on the consensus big board. There was also a question of positional value, with most teams opting for money-five positions in Round 1 (QB, WR, OT, EDGE, CB).
It's hard to argue with either point so far, but what’s encouraging is how well Booker has played in the limited time he’s been on the field. After suffering a high-ankle sprain earlier in the season, the first-round pick from Alabama made his return to the field in Week 7 and put together another strong outing.
Cowboys RG Tyler Booker is already proving the doubters wrong
It wasn’t a perfect outing for Booker against the Commanders, but he showed all of the traits that made Dallas fall in love with him during the 2025 NFL Draft. Going up against Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw, Booker more than held his own in this NFC East matchup.
In a recent article, Pro Football Focus listed its all-rookie team from Week 7, featuring Tyler Booker as one of the top interior offensive linemen. Here is what they had to say about Booker and his return to the field against the Commanders:
"The Cowboys scored a big win over the division rival Commanders this past Sunday, and Tyler Booker’s pass blocking was a key contribution to their success. On 38 pass-blocking snaps, Booker yielded just two pressures while securing a 72.1 PFF pass-blocking grade protecting Dak Prescott."Pro Football Focus on Tyler Booker
This was easily Booker’s best game in pass protection so far, as he allowed nine total pressures in his first three NFL starts. His best work has come as a run blocker, and that’s no surprise given his size and strength. He had some massive blocks against the Commanders in Week 7, including opening up a huge hole for Jaydon Blue on one of his biggest runs.
READ MORE: The one Cowboys player Jerry Jones should sacrifice to get Maxx Crosby
It’s not hard to see the potential and the upside with Booker. At 6’5, 325 pounds, he is already one of the strongest guards in the NFL and his ability to bully defensive tackles in the run game is a sight to see. The down-to-down consistency isn’t there yet, but again, he’s played just 291 snaps in the NFL and is coming off a significant ankle injury.
Could the Cowboys have found more positional value in Round 1? Of course. Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden, and Jalon Walker all would have added more positional value and were ranked higher on the consensus boards going into the draft. But the Cowboys wanted to make their team tougher and more physical. And after what we’ve seen from them in the first seven weeks of the season, it’s hard to blame them.
We will see soon just how good a player Booker can become in the NFL, but it’s easy to be excited about his long-term outlook after just four games. He has all the makings of a Pro Bowl guard, and the combination between him and Tyler Smith gives Dallas an edge they have been missing for the last several decades.