The Dallas Cowboys are entering training camp with a bunch of new faces on the offensive line. Out goes Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and Travis Frederick; in comes Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith and Tyler Booker. With this new look offensive line, it appears that one player will be asked to change positions.
Tyler Booker, the 12th overall pick out of Alabama, lined up as a left guard through most of his collegiate career. However, with veteran and future Hall of Famer Martin retiring this offseason, Dallas selected Booker specifically to take on the vacated right guard spot. During his early years at Alabama, Booker was asked to play both left and right guard before eventually settling into that left guard role.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Booker said earlier this week, via Garrett Podell of CBS Sports, in regards to his transition over to right guard.
He also noted that the transition is not overly challenging to him due to his time under Nick Saban, which prepared him for this moment.
Dallas drafted Booker to provide his physicality alongside his interior versatility. Scouts noted that Booker’s combination of power, technique, and durability made him arguably the best guard prospect in the 2025 NFL draft. Coming in at 6-foot-5 and 321 pounds, Booker allowed just one sack over three seasons with Alabama and earned multiple All‑SEC honors, capped by a first‑team All‑American selection in 2024.
Booker’s rapid adjustment to the right guard role will give Cowboys fans good reason to be very excited about Booker’s rookie season. Observers from multiple outlets expect Booker to be a day 1 starter, which will give him the daunting task of filling the shoes of Martin.
While Booker is still adjusting to this new position and the speed of the NFL game, he is already making himself known in the locker room. At Alabama, Booker was known for his leadership ability, and now he looks to translate that to a Cowboys locker room that already has a few leadership pieces like Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons.
The addition of Booker could not have come at a better time. With a new look offensive line featuring multiple highly drafted players, the Cowboys appear to be building the line for the long haul. If Booker can transition smoothly into the NFL, the Cowboys should see improvement in their rushing attack, which ranked 27th in rushing yards per game in 2024.
All signs point positively for Booker, but for now, it is just talk. Soon we will see if he will be actually ready for the NFL.
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