Dallas opted to bolster its offensive line with its first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, taking Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker. It seems like a trend as Dallas notably took linemen Tyler Smith (2022) and Tyler Guyton (2024) with their first picks in recent years.

Here are five things to know about Booker, the 12th pick in this year’s draft:

1. The basics

Name: Tyler Booker

Position: OG

Height: 6-5 Weight: 321 pounds

College: Alabama

Hometown: New Haven, Conn.

High school: IMG Academy

2. He’s a Saban guy

One of college football’s greatest coaches was pretty fond of Booker.

Before his freshman campaign at Alabama in 2022, Booker had already built a strong connection with Nick Saban. Booker attended a Saban-led camp in 2015, then earned an All-Saban Team selection during a second camp visit in 2017.

Booker ultimately played under Saban for two seasons before the coach retired in 2024. Saban was on hand when Dallas selected Booker at 12th overall.

“This guy is a fantastic young man. I mean, smart and you talk about a good leader,” Saban told ESPN. “Very physical. Very tough. Gets movement in the run. That’s why people like him so much. This guy’s got tremendous muscle mass, which I think is very important to being a power player in the NFL.”

3. Has a familiar OL coach

Booker spent the pre-draft process working with a familiar name in the Dallas area. He trained with Duke Manyweather, the owner of Frisco-based OL Masterminds.

Manyweather has worked with a number of Cowboys offensive linemen, including Zack Martin, Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith and Cooper Beebe.

4. Had wild stats at Bama

Booker was a dominant force on Alabama’s offensive line over the last two years. His most impressive campaign came in 2024, when he played a total of 778 snaps.

According to Pro Football Focus, Booker didn’t allow a sack in his final collegiate campaign. He only allowed two throughout his entire stint in Tuscaloosa.

5. Jamming out with his new head coach

Booker apparently had a great time during his pre-draft visit with the Cowboys. The newest Dallas offensive lineman told reporters that he jammed out to Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” with Brian Schottenheimer.

Schottenheimer notably made an extra effort to meet with prospects ahead of this year’s draft. He already got out to a strong start with Booker.

More on Cowboys’ selection of Tyler Booker

— Dallas Cowboys select Alabama OG Tyler Booker with 12th overall pick in 2025 NFL draft

— Who is Tyler Booker? Five things to know about the Dallas Cowboys’ first-round selection

— Tyler Booker wasn’t the sexiest pick, but he was the right one for Dallas Cowboys

— How Tyler Booker fits player profile Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer is looking for

— Cowboys’ Tyler Booker doesn’t have to be a Hall of Famer, just better than his draft peers

— National reaction to Cowboys’ No. 12 draft pick: Add another to the ‘Great Wall of Tyler’

— This Tyler Booker quote drew exciting reaction from new Cowboys teammate Micah Parsons

— Ex-Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy says he loves Dallas’ first-round selection of Tyler Booker

— Listen: Tyler Booker gets the call from Cowboys after being drafted at 12th overall

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