Todd ArcherApr 24, 2025, 09:48 PM ET
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- Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has coated the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010.
Up to now 3 months, the Dallas Cowboys noticed Tyron Smith and Zack Martin, two in their biggest offensive linemen in staff historical past, retire, however they’re hoping Alabama’s Tyler Booker can proceed the group’s first-round luck up entrance.
The Cowboys took Booker, a guard, with the twelfth variety within the NFL draft Thursday evening, marking the 3rd time up to now 4 years that they’ve used their most sensible pick out on an offensive lineman.
In 2022, the Cowboys took Tyler Smith, and ultimate 12 months they chose Tyler Guyton. Smith has been decided on to the Professional Bowl the previous two years, whilst Guyton had a middling rookie season in 2024, beginning 11 video games at left take on.
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The Cowboys went with out drafting an offensive lineman within the first around from 1981 to 2011, once they took Tyron Smith. They adopted that with Professional Bowl heart Travis Frederick in 2013 and Martin in 2014.
Martin retired in February, and Smith, who performed ultimate season with the New York Jets, retired ultimate week after signing a deal to retire as a Cowboy.
“I am tremendous excited to return in and to be a Cowboy,” Booker mentioned Thursday. “I watched Zack Martin so much rising up. He’s a Corridor of Famer. However I believe I’d be doing me and the group a disservice if I am going in there seeking to be Zack Martin.
“I will be Tyler Booker each and every unmarried day I am in there. I am going to be informed portions of Zack Martin and what made Zack Martin, Zack Martin, and I will upload that to Tyler Booker. I am not going to head in there seeking to be Zack Martin. I will move in there being Tyler Booker.”
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Booker is the highest-picked offensive lineman the Cowboys have taken since settling on Smith at No. 9 general.
At 6-foot-4 and 321 kilos, Booker is thought of as probably the most absolute best run blockers within the draft. He used to be a staff captain and first-team All-SEC pick out ultimate season.
When requested about attainable complaint of the Cowboys’ variety, Booker pointed to his accomplishments at Alabama.
“I’d say flip at the tape, as a result of 3 years at Alabama, I simply directly up ruled,” Booker mentioned. “I used to be a dude on the College of Alabama. I used to be that man in SEC for 3 years directly. It takes so much for an individual to be that.”
Regardless that Booker is seen as a direct starter, the Cowboys added Robert Jones and Saahdiq Charles in unfastened company and still have Brock Hoffman, who began seven video games at proper guard ultimate 12 months when Martin’s season ended with an ankle harm.
