The Dallas Cowboys took a risk by handing the starting role at right guard to Tyler Booker in his rookie season. But he went on to establish himself as one of the core interior linemen protecting quarterback Dak Prescott in 2025.  

During a media session at the OTAs on June 4, Booker revealed that he has been able to focus on his technique more as he is heading into his second season.

"I'm so much more confident,” Booker said, per an X post of the Cowboys Network. “I'm able to play a lot faster. So, rather than me thinking about 'where is this play going,' now I know where my hands are supposed to be and where my angle is supposed to be. I'm able to focus that.”

Booker believes that working in the OTAs could help them focus on smaller things, as they don't wear any protective gear like pads. In his case, he wanted to be more precise with his hand placement and where he shoots his hands, as he wanted to improve them since last year. 

Booker started all 14 games he played, though he missed three games due to a high ankle sprain in 2025. He filled the position of future Hall of Famer Zack Martin at right guard, as he retired in 2024 after 11 years with the Cowboys.

Booker was present in the field for a total of 631 dropbacks, the most of any rookie interior lineman in the league in 2025, earning him the 2025 PFWA All-Rookie Team award.

He allowed only three sacks and 25 pressures in the 14 games he started, ranking him third among all offensive linemen in pressure rate (5.9%), according to the DallasCowboys.com.

The 2025 first-round pick received praise from left guard Tyler Smith, who is already hyped about what Booker will bring in the 2026 season.

"I think his [Year 2] jump could be astronomical," Smith said, per DallasCowboys.com. "He's come in with the right mindset, each and every day, to get better, and he's truly put that into practice, game, and game out."

After a strong rookie campaign, Booker enters Year 2 with greater confidence and higher expectations in building a championship culture along with the team.

He also highlighted another element that may allow him to begin the 2026 season in better shape.

Tyler Booker Highlights Importance of Off-Field Bonding

After the June 4 OTA session, Booker also revealed that the off-field bond of the O-line has reflected in their on-field performance in the 2025 season.

He believes that the group of five on the offensive line - Cooper Beebe (center), Tyler Smith (left guard), Tyler Guyton (left tackle), Terence Steele (right tackle), and he himself can perform much better when playing together.

"Just with us being together as a five again going into this year, the more reps that we have, the more time that we have together, and the more chemistry you have on the offensive line, the better they perform," Booker said.

He shared that attending Beebe's wedding recently showed off such a close bond. It reminded him of his sophomore year at Alabama, where the Alabama team had the best production on the field for that year.

With most of the offensive line returning, the Cowboys are expecting the unit to help fuel a Super Bowl run in 2026.

Do you think Booker and the offensive line will be able to meet the expectations in 2026? Share your thoughts.

Read more at Dallas Cowboys Community.

Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar