Was it a Reach?: Tyler Booker

Was it a Reach

Many years ago, I created Why the Slide and Why Undrafted in response to questions about why certain well-known prospects were selected lower or not drafted at all in the NFL Draft. This year, I thought to expand to see if a player was a reach. The answer to whether a player was a reach is as simple as the player was valued at that spot by the team that drafted him. However, other teams may not agree with that grade, so I thought I would check if certain players were actual reaches in the NFL Draft.

For these articles, I reach out to sources with NFL teams to find out where their teams valued this player. The positive response to “Why Undrafted” and questions from readers about why prospects were drafted lower than the media’s expectations led us to create the parallel series “Why the Slide?” and now, “Was it a Reach?”

Both series are back this year. Feel free to email me requests for Why the Slide? and Why Undrafted? at [email protected]. I can’t promise to get to all of them, but I will do my best and definitely will respond to the email.

For the vast majority of the lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft, Alabama guard Tyler Booker was projected to be a late first-round pick. Booker was phenomenal during his career with the Crimson Tide, but the way teams deemphasize taking guards early in the draft had the common projections of Booker going in the back half of the first round. However, the Dallas Cowboys loved Booker enough to make him a top-12 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

In speaking to team sources, some felt it was a slight reach. However, opinions varied. The range that a few evaluators felt was appropriate for Booker was 15-25. However, a couple of sources felt that 12 was not too high for Booker, as they loved him as a prospect on the field and for being a high-character leader. Thus, Booker was a reach to some and not to others.

Booker should be a plug-and-play starter in Dallas, and he should immediately improve the Cowboys’ ability to run the football. If Booker plays up to his ability, Dallas could have the best guard tandem in the NFL with Tyler Smith at left guard. The third Tyler, 2024 first-round pick at left tackle, Tyler Guyton, gives the Cowboys a talented young offensive line with size, strength, and athleticism. Booker may have been a reach to some, but he could pay immediate dividends to help keep Dak Prescott healthy and improve Dallas’ ability to field an effective ground offense in 2025.