Latest news with #TylerBooker
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama Projected to Have Multiple First Round Picks in 2026 NFL Draft
Alabama Projected to Have Multiple First Round Picks in 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Since 2017, the Alabama Crimson Tide football team has had at least two players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. This April, Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker and linebacker Jihaad Campbell went in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Advertisement The Dallas Cowboys selected Booker with the 12th overall pick, while the Eagles traded with the Kansas City Chiefs to acquire the 31st overall selection and land Campbell. According to one prominent social media giant, Alabama is again expected to provide the NFL ranks with more first-round talent in 2026. Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen David Mercer-Imagn Images On Tuesday, CBS Sports and 247Sports released their 2026 NFL Mock Draft, with two Crimson Tide athletes being early draft selections. CBSSports' Ryan Wilson has Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor going to the Cleveland Browns with the second overall pick. In this hypothetical NFL, Proctor would likely become the top tackle assigned to protect second-year quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Advertisement With the 13th overall pick, Wilson has the Seattle Seahawks adding defensive line help in the form of Alabama's LT Overton. Last season, his first with Alabama, Overton recorded 42 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a pair of sacks. A former five-star recruit, Overton played for the Texas A&M Aggies in 2022 and 2023. With the selections of Proctor and Overton, it will mark a decade-long streak of multiple first-round picks for the Alabama Crimson Tide. 2016 is the last time Alabama did not have multiple first-round selections, with center Ryan Kelly being the lone draftee in the first 32 picks. The 2008 NFL Draft was the last time Alabama did not have a first-round pick, which occurred on the heels of Nick Saban's second year with the program. Related: Twin Sister of Alabama 5-Star QB Keelon Russell Passes Away This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Cowboys' 1st-round rookie working to flatten learning curve of life in NFL
Cowboys' 1st-round rookie working to flatten learning curve of life in NFL To go from college ball to the NFL, there is famously a huge learning curve. But Cowboys first-round draft pick Tyler Booker is working to do to that curve what he's done to defensive linemen throughout his playing career. Flatten it. With teams still in the obligatory non-contact phase of their offseason program, though, the massive six-foot-five guard has had to rely on something other than his 320-pound frame to get himself acclimated to playing at the professional level. "The more you know football," the just-turned-21-year-old said this week, "the slower the game becomes." Booker is getting crash-course tutoring these days from his offensive linemates in Dallas. "I couldn't ask for a better room of vets," he explained. "We're a younger room, but there's still a lot of experience within there." That part is debatable. The presumed starting five all obviously have more playing time under their belts than Booker, but the overall youth clearly stands out. Undrafted right tackle Terence Steele is 28 years old and suddenly the group's elder statesman, with 74 career starts. Tyler Smith, Tyler Guyton, and Cooper Beebe are all 24 and have 47, 11, and 16 starts, respectively. Put another way, the front five's combined 148 starts (to date) are still shy of the just-retired Zack Martin's 162. The Cowboys O-line is indeed a young bunch, and they're still very much figuring out how they'll gel. Booker may be the fresh-faced rookie, but he's making sure he's not the weak link. "We're building great chemistry," he said. "If I ever have a question right before the snap, they're able to help me out and lead me in the right direction. But I'm trying to make sure that that doesn't become a habit. I'm very prideful in knowing the offense, and I want to make sure I'm not holding this room back by any means." Booker believes his collegiate tenure at one of the country's most rigorous football programs gives him something of a head start in that regard. He said that the Cowboys' minicamp last week- although notoriously challenging for some rookies, given the hands-off rules that severely limit what linemen can do- was not unlike what he experienced in Tuscaloosa, explaining, "We were still out there going against each other without helmets." And the first-team All-American pointed to a lengthy list of mentors he's been exposed to along the way, dating all the way back to high school. In addition to Nick Saban, Kalen DeBoer, and Crimson Tide assistants Eric Wolford and Chris Kapilovic, Booker rattled off names like George Hegamin, the former Cowboy who was a key backup during the Super Bowl dynasty days, and three-time Pro Bowler Tra Thomas, who, he noted with a knowing smile, "played for another team in the NFL." Both O-line veterans coached him at IMG Academy in Florida. He also shouted out JC Latham, his linemate in both high school and college, who was a first-round draft pick last year for the Tennessee Titans. Booker called Latham his "best friend" and said he's helping him adjust to his first offseason in the pros. Picking up little things from all of them," Booker allowed, "has definitely contributed to my football IQ." Which brings us back to the original problem: flattening out that rookie learning curve so he can make an immediate impact with the new-look 2025 Cowboys. For now, it's a challenge that Booker, who graduated from 'Bama in just three years, is happy to attack mentally, with a little help from his (slightly more) experienced teammates and his formidable Rolodex of football mentors. "The speed of the game, it's so sped up from college to the NFL," he said. "So, them telling me to see the whole picture and be like, 'Okay, obviously you have to see the three-technique or the two in front of you. Well, where's that linebacker aligned? Where's that safety aligned? What's going on on the other side? How is that end playing Those are all things I have to take into account pre-snap, and the more reps I get during minicamp and OTAs, the more I start to see the whole picture, and that's definitely helped me improve to this point." But just wait until the pads go on in Oxnard and the linemen can actually hit each other. That's when the gargantuan Booker can start physically wrestling that sizable learning curve into submission. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFC East rookie first rounders all post danger to Cowboys but one stands out most
NFC East rookie first rounders all post danger to Cowboys but one stands out most The Washington Commanders, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles are all proficient drafting teams. Their ability to add impactful rookies is one of the reasons the Dallas Cowboys have fallen to No. 3 in the NFC East and a major factor why many analysts have the Cowboys outside the playoff picture in 2025. The Cowboys made a safe, albeit unspectacular, pick when they drafted Tyler Booker with the No. 12 pick. It's an abnormally high place to select an interior offensive lineman and a selection the rest of the division probably isn't losing sleep over. While Dallas went safe in the first round, their division rivals went aggressive. New York drafted two players in the first round, selecting Abdul Carter from Penn State with the third overall pick and then adding Jaxson Dart with the 25th pick later in the round. The Commanders followed the Cowboys' lead and went offensive line with tackle Josh Conerly from Oregon. They understand protecting their best weapon, QB Jayden Daniels, is their best chance at continued success and drafted accordingly. Meanwhile the Eagles added to their already stacked defense by picking up Jihaad Campbell with the 31st pick. Campbell is a great prospect with decent value late in the draft and figures into the starting rotation on Day 1. All of the players selected in the first-round project are cornerstone pieces who are likely to haunt the Cowboys for years to come but one player stands out far above the others as both an elite prospect and a 'sure thing.' That's the Giant's Carter. Carter looks like the second coming of Micah Parsons. He's an unblockable pass rusher who can attack from multiple places in a variety of ways. He's a player who will be a thorn in the side of Dallas for years to come and someone who makes Tyler Guyton's development imperative. The Cowboys put all their eggs in Guyton's basket this year. The 2024 first rounder out of Oklahoma has a tremendous skill set but is coming off a terrible rookie season. If he can't make tremendous growth in 2025 the Cowboys will have their work cut out for the foreseeable future. There's no telling how any of these players will work out for their respective teams once the dust settles but one thing is for certain: Carter is the real deal and top name on the NFC East draft class in 2025. You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
6 reasons Cowboys 1st-round pick should pay immediate dividends
6 reasons Cowboys 1st-round pick should pay immediate dividends Drafted for stability, not spotlight, Tyler Booker could quietly become the Cowboys' most impactful addition by helping reshape the trenches in 2025 and beyond. Rebuilding the offensive line has continued to be priority No. 1 for the Dallas Cowboys. Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, and Tyler Guyton have been part of the process of helping revamp a front that at one point possessed three All-Pro players who have since retired. Dallas' next project? Rookie guard Tyler Booker. The Alabama product may not have been the flashiest selection back in April during the 2025 NFL Draft, but it certainly was the right move to make for a unit that needed to replace a franchise great in future hall of famer Zack Martin, even if the nine-time All-Pro is irreplaceable. With Smith already an All-Pro, Beebe having exceeded expectations in his rookie season, and Guyton hopefully taking a positive step forward in Year 2, Dallas wants to watch their newest addition blossom upfront into the type of player they envision him to be. Proven Pedigree While college accolades don't translate to success at the next level, they speak to a player's impact and dominance at his prior level of competition. Booker emerged over his three seasons in Tuscaloosa, playing in 38 games, and was twice named First-Team All-SEC (2023, 2024), a First-Team All-American in 2024, and one recognition that any player would be most proud of, which was being named a team captain in his final season. NFL-Ready Traits Booker didn't carry the hype of a top-10 pick, but his tape shows a player built for Sundays. At Alabama, he routinely matched up against NFL-caliber talent and held his ground, both literally and figuratively. He has the thick, sturdy frame needed to anchor against bull rushers, but also the balance and footwork to mirror in space. Booker's hand usage should be advanced for a rookie, and his awareness in pass protection, especially against stunts and blitz pickups, stood out in college. He plays with a noticeable edge, finishing blocks and setting a tone up front. Simply put: this isn't a project. Booker arrives in Dallas ready to compete from Day 1. Perfect Scheme Fit Under Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys are expected to lean into a more physical, downhill style on offense. Booker fits that approach seamlessly. He's a people-mover in the run game and plays with a low pad level that allows him to create push at the point of attack. His ability to combo block and seal lanes could be critical to reviving a rushing attack that ranked near the bottom of the league last season. In pass sets, he's more than just serviceable; he stays square to rushers and uses his length well. For a team trying to build a more rugged identity in the trenches, Booker's skillset checks every box. Right Situation for Growth Not every rookie lands in a situation built for development, but Booker's does. He won't be asked to carry the offense out of the gate. Instead, he'll be surrounded by veteran leadership and slotted into a line being reshaped with a focus on youth and sustainability. That balance of mentorship and opportunity is ideal. He'll have a chance to learn from experienced pros, adjust to the speed of the NFL, and grow into a larger role without being rushed. And unlike other high-profile picks, Booker isn't being viewed as a savior, instead a stabilizer. That gives him the freedom to develop the right way, without the spotlight burning too hot, too fast. Cowboys' History with Linemen A clear-cut argument can be made that the no franchise has had better success at developing first-round offensive lineman than Dallas. The Cowboys have long held the secret formula to identifying the right guys up front when the investment is at it's highest. What prominent names such as Martin, Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick brought to the table was a combination of toughness and consistency, something Booker will look to bring with him on Sundays at AT&T Stadium. High Impact, Low Flash Offensive line play doesn't show up on stat sheets but what they can do is help skill players do just that. Still, according to Pro Football Focus, the No. 12 overall pick allowed just two sacks and six QB hits in his three seasons with the Crimson Tide. Above all, Booker is the type of player whose work may not flood the numbers but will show up and help a team win games, something that legendary college coach Nick Saban, who coached Booker for two of his three seasons at Alabama recognized very quickly. "This guy is a fantastic young man," Saban said during an ABC broadcast last season. "I mean, [he's] smart and you talk about a good leader. 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." If the 6-foot-5, 321-pound guard can make an immediate impact right away, Dallas' line would instantly elevate. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Controversial rookie outranks volatile FA as Cowboys most important 2025 addition
Amid the usual roller coaster of a Dallas Cowboys' offseason, which included a splashy receiver acquisition as well as a rare but busy free agency, one of their most meaningful moves this past spring came during the heart of roster building, the 2025 NFL draft. CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin named rookie guard Tyler Booker the Cowboys' best move of the 2025 offseason; it wasn't a flashy headline-grabber but it was a nod to the kind of decision that can help win games in December. George Pickens is a signature Jerry Jones splash, and he may well take the Cowboys' passing attack to new heights opposite CeeDee Lamb. Whereas he's more of a volatile swing, however, Booker feels like the kind of smart but unsexy investment that could really keep Dak Prescott upright. If he holds up as a Day 1 guard, Brian Schottenheimer might have this team back in the playoff mix. Advertisement Booker, the former Alabama standout, isn't the type of player who moves jerseys or headlines. But what he might move, and move well, is the pocket. And for a quarterback like Dak Prescott, returning from a season-ending injury and entering a pivotal year under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, that might be everything. That's the bet Dallas is making: that a dependable, sturdy, NFL-ready guard will solidify an offensive line that continues to add more youth and power on the interior. For all the talk of Prescott's inconsistency, much of it stemmed from protection breakdowns and limited support between the tackles. Booker, a First-Team All-American in 2024, brings polish and physicality that should plug into the Cowboys' line from Day 1. The Cowboys didn't just need a spark; they needed a stabilizer. Booker could be just that. If he helps protect Prescott, opens lanes for a ground game that finished 27th last season, and gives Schottenheimer more time to get creative, it won't matter if he's not the name on the back of every fan's jersey. Advertisement In a year where Dallas is trying to shed disappointment and reclaim relevance in the NFC, sometimes it's not the loudest move that matters most. Sometimes it's the one that gets you through the trenches, literally. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans! This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: CBS Sports calls Tyler Booker the Cowboys best move of busy offseason
