Dallas Cowboys select OL Tyler Booker with No. 12 overall selection in NFL Draft
With the No. 12 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker, making him a first-round pick on the offensive line for the third time in four years for the franchise.
Booker, a three-year player at guard at Alabama, will most likely fill the right guard spot in Dallas after the retirement of Zack Martin.
“I’m super excited to come in and just be a Cowboy,” Booker said on a conference call with local media. “I watched Zack Martin a lot growing up. He’s a Hall of Fame player, but I think I would be doing me and the organization a disservice if I go in there trying to be Zack Martin. I’m going to be Tyler Booker every single day I’m in there.”
The Cowboys targeted Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan with their first-round pick, but he was selected with the No. 8 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers. The next-highest target was Booker, who landed at No. 12 as the fourth offensive lineman taken in the 2025 draft.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones waited until the last possible moment to turn the card in to draft Booker awaiting another NFL team to potentially call about a trade opportunity, which is something that executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team would explore going into the night.
The Houston Texans called with an offer for future draft picks while Dallas was looking for capital in this draft cycle. Ultimately, the Cowboys remained at No. 12 and made their selection.
Booker joins 2022 first-round pick Tyler Smith and 2024 first-round pick Tyler Guyton as the third offensive lineman taken in the first round in the last four years by the Cowboys. A known leader and motivator during his time at Alabama, Booker did not allow a sack during his junior season in 2024 and was regarded as one of the nastier offensive linemen in the class with his physical play and a team captain leader at one of the more respected college football programs in the country.
“That stems from me having love and passion for my teammates, having a love and passion for where I played football at, and that’s gonna carry with me to this next level,” he said. “What I did in college doesn’t really matter officially, so I’m going to have to rebuild all those relationships. I’m going to have to build that trust and respect for my teammates and coaches. I’m looking forward to doing that so I can grow into that leadership role.”
A native of New Haven, Conn., Booker was a top recruit for Alabama coming out of the renowned IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. where some of the top high school players in the country play.
Booker will depart his draft party and head straight to Dallas on Thursday night to be introduced as the newest Dallas Cowboy on Friday afternoon.
This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 8:24 PM.
