The Dallas Cowboys sent shockwaves throughout their fan base when they selected Alabama guard Tyler Booker with the No. 12 overall pick. Arguably the top guard in the draft, Booker will replace Zack Martin at right guard after Martin retired this offseason to cap a Hall of Fame career.
Offensive line was a sneaky big need in the draft, but guard is regarded as a position that can be addressed on day two and three. The Cowboys selected Cooper Beebe in the third round last year and he already looks like one of the best young centers in the game.
Most Cowboys fans wanted the team to take a receiver. That feeling held true even after top target Tetairoa McMillan went No. 8 overall to the Panthers. After all, 30 visit Matthew Golden, often mocked to Dallas over the last few months, was still on the board.
Golden's slide last a little longer than expected and he ended up with one of the worst teams imaginable from a Cowboys perspective.
Packers drafting Matthew Golden twists knife in Cowboys fans' hearts
The Eagles and Packers reportedly had discussions about swapping picks, but Green Bay held firm and selected Golden at No. 23 overall.
The Packers, you know, the team that handed Dallas arguably its worst playoff loss in franchise history two years ago. You couldn't name a worse landing spot for Golden outside of the NFC East.
Golden goes to a loaded Packers offense and could become Jordan Love's top target following Christian Watson's torn ACL.
The jury is out on whether Golden can be a WR1 in the NFL, but Green Bay has had a glaring need for a WR1 the last few years. He figures to flourish in Matt LaFleur's offense and he is the guy Cowboys fans will be comparing and contrasting with Booker.
The Cowboys don't often shoot for fireworks in the NFL Draft, but if there was ever a year to take an offensive playmaker, this was it. While not a loaded WR class by any means, Golden was a top-three player alongside McMillan and Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka.
Any one of McMillan, Egbuka or Golden would have moved the needle more than Booker. As currently constructed, Dallas is expected to start Jalen Tolbert opposite CeeDee Lamb. We have our doubts that will be the case by the time Week 1 rolls around, but it gets increasingly hard from this point forward to find a WR2 in this draft.