Just a little over a week stands between the Dallas Cowboys and the start of 2026 OTAs. While the offseason has not fully come to an end, Dallas and the other 31 NFL franchises have made almost all of the significant moves they will make before the start of training camp.
Dallas’ roster looks significantly different from what it did at this time last year, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. With that thought in mind, today we continue our series ranking the top 10 players on the Cowboys
roster for the 2026 season.
8) Tyler Booker
Age: 22
Years Pro: 1
NFL Awards: None
2025 Recap: It’s no secret the Cowboys love drafting talented offensive linemen in the first round. Dallas stayed true to this pattern in 2025, using another premium selection to once again upgrade the unit.
As we all know, the Cowboys decided on Tyler Booker out of Alabama. The selection came with a bit of a mixed reaction. Some believed Dallas was investing too much premium capital in the offensive line with other positions of need, but others were thrilled about Booker’s NFL projection and what he could add to the Cowboys’ offense.
Flash forward a year, and those who were excited about the Booker pick are looking very right. The Alabama product had a fantastic rookie year, starting 14 games and looking like the next potential star at right guard. Booker finished the year with the seventh-highest (76.8) run blocking grade in the league, and his 72.0 overall offensive grade was just a little over one point behind Pro-Bowler Tyler Smith (73.5).
Booker was a force to be reckoned with in the run game and made a clear impact on Dallas’ ability to run the ball to the right side. While pass protection was not as strong as his work in the run game, Booker was nothing close to a liability. The rookie allowed only three sacks and went five of the final six games of the regular season without being called for a penalty.
2026 Preview: After such a great start to his NFL career, expectations are sky high for Booker in year two. With Tyler Smith already locked up long-term, the Cowboys could be looking at having the best guard duo in the league in the coming years.
It’s hard to believe, but Booker is still only just 22-years-old. As he matures both physically and mentally, he is likely only going to sharpen his craft and become an even better player than he was during his rookie year.
The Cowboys have plenty of talent on their roster, but Booker is more than deserving of the eighth spot in these rankings. It’s not easy for rookie offensive linemen to come in and seamlessly transition to playing at the next level, but that is exactly what Booker did. He made the Cowboys look very smart for selecting him 12th overall, and if he can stay healthy, he should have no problem making his first Pro Bowl and potentially All-Pro team this upcoming season.
Prediction: Tyler Booker builds upon his impressive rookie year, starting all 17 regular-season games and making his first Pro Bowl.
