Jerry Jones' most debatable Cowboys draft pick is proving doubters wrong

The Dallas Cowboys' 2025 draft class could go down in franchise history as one the best two-day stretches of rookie talent acquisition. Perhaps the order of the picks were a little out of step with the consensus, but many signs point to at least two, possibly three high-end starters for the future.

Owner Jerry Jones still holds the title of GM, and even if he's not as involved in personnel as he once was, he deserves credit for whatever the decision-making process is that saw this come to fruition.

Dallas kicked off its this year with an unconventional, polarizing selection at 12th overall. As bold as the Cowboys' moves were to trade Micah Parsons and acquire Quinnen Williams, their audacity on Day 1 of the draft is getting a little lost in that noise.

Cowboys' polarizing first-round pick looks like the right call after all

We're far enough into the season to at least give a fair progress report on Dallas' top two rookies. Third-round cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. is still working back from a torn ACL, but second-round defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku looks like a stud who can at least emulate Parsons' prior production as a pass rusher.

Once again, though, we're overlooking the headliner. Former Alabama guard Tyler Booker was who the Cowboys chose with the No. 12 pick.

Tommy Yarrish, a reporter for the Cowboys' official website, highlighted just how effective Booker has been in pass protection as a rookie:

"Cowboys rookie right guard Tyler Booker has allowed pressure on 20 of his 426 pass blocks this season (4.7%), the lowest pressure rate among any rookie RG and the second-lowest by any rookie RG in a season since at least 2018. His 4.7% pressure rate is fourth-lowest among RGs in the NFL this season."

Choosing a prospect at a non-premium that early wasn't the slam dunk it looks like now. Booker did have that Crimson Tide pedigree, yet he was a marginal athlete who tested rather poorly:

For comparison's sake, the last guard the Cowboys took this high was Zack Martin back in 2014, and he had a relative athletic score of 9.08.

When teams gambling a first-round selection on a guard, it tends to mean they believe in some elite physical tools. This happened for the Titans with Peter Skoronski when he was the 11th pick in 2023. Look at his athletic profile!

Martin went on to be a Hall of Fame-caliber player. Skoronski is one of the league's premier guards nowadays despite Tennessee's perpetual struggles.

What Booker is doing defies the odds. He's living proof that the underwear Olympics of the NFL Scouting Combine can't fully account for what a player can do on the field.

Funnily enough, Dallas' success on offense in 2025 and Dak Prescott's resurgent season don't have much to do with pass blocking. PFF rates the Cowboys only 29th in that department, so the fact that Booker is playing so well shows how valuable of a building block he is for the future.

For whatever roster-building shortcomings the 'Boys have had since they last won something of consequence, they're exceptional at evaluating offensive line talent. Last year's first-round left tackle Tyler Guyton is hurt, but before him and Booker there were countless examples.

Tyler Smith. Tyler Biadasz. Connor McGovern. Connor Williams. Zack Martin. Travis Frederick. Tyron Smith. Most were huge hits in Dallas. Others elsewhere. The only thing that derailed players like Williams and Frederick were injuries or other medical issues.

All indications are that Tyler Booker is the next major draft win in the offensive trenches for America's Team.