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Micah Parsons reacts to Cowboys' Tyler Booker selection: 'I just wanted to see that on my side of the ball'

Nick Profile Picby:Nick Geddes•about 21 hours•

NickGeddesNews

Tyler Booker
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons was disappointed when Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan went off the board No. 8 overall in Thursday’s Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Parsons wanted McMillan in Dallas, playing alongside CeeDee Lamb.

Four picks later, at No. 12, Dallas made its first-round selection. The Cowboys went with Alabama‘s Tyler Booker, one of the best guards available in this year’s draft. Parsons was happy with the pick, repeatedly calling Booker a “beast” in the trenches. But at first, Parsons seemed unsure. That’s because at that point in the draft, he wanted to see Dallas add a force to its defense.

“I am excited about the pick,” Parsons said on his Bleacher Report livestream. “This guy is a beast, he is a beast, and I look at him and Tyler Smith, guard on guard with Zack Martin leaving — this is one of those picks, wow, he is a beast. I just wanted to see that on my side of the ball. That’s it. I’m not mad at the pick.”

The Cowboys had plenty of reasons for selecting Booker. The offensive line struggled last season. Martin, the seven-time All-Pro right guard, retired earlier this offseason. Booker will replace Martin at right guard, with Smith staying put at left guard.

Tyler Booker: ‘I was that guy’ at Alabama

In his three seasons at Alabama, Booker made 37 appearances and 27 starts. He played and started in all 13 of Alabama’s games this past season. Booker finished the year with a team-high 87 knockdown blocks (7.3 per game) across 653 snaps of play.

The 6-foot-5, 325-pound standout was a permanent team captain for the Crimson Tide in 2024. For his excellent play, he was named a First Team All-SEC selection and a First Team All-American by both CBS Sports and USA Today.

Replacing a future Hall of Famer in Martin will be difficult. But Booker is confident and up for the challenge.

“For one, I would say turn on the tape,” Booker said, via Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com. “Because for three years at Alabama, I just straight up dominated. I was a dude at the University of Alabama. I was THAT guy.

“Actually, for three years straight. And it takes a lot for a person to be that.”