Tyler Booker Solidifies His Spot on the Draft Board

I’m a fan of Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker.

I know. I know.

Offensive guards aren’t trendy and they aren’t sexy to take day one. Everyone wants a shiny new quarterback, receiver, tight end, or running back.

However, without the big boys up front, none of that means a hill of beans.

While the offensive skill position prospects get hype, glory, and press clippings, make no mistake: Guards are important, too. They help block things up so that everyone else can do their thing.

Every player on a team has a role, and when each performs that role at a high level, the team ⎯has a chance to win.

Get the offensive line right and things have a better chance of going right on game day.

Tell me more

Booker is 321 pounds of man, and he knows how to use it.

• Long arms
• Elite Athleticism
• Ironclad power

AGGRESSION

He’s got this to him. It’s a defensive mentality on the offensive side of the ball.

I love it when he goes into brute bully mode and walls off the man across from him.

Best trait?

His protective instincts.

Booker isn’t just good at blocking one-on-one, he excels at blocking with others when it’s designed (like when he double-teamed pass blocks with his center), and when it’s not (like the times he looked for extra work and kicked out to block the pass rusher his left tackle was battling).

For the second straight season of film, his ability to work well in concert with his other offensive linemen stood out, as did his innate desire to keep defenders off his quarterback.

Worst trait?

Booker can let his foot off the gas at times.

It’s not 100% all the time. He can get too lax. His intensity level wavers. Occasionally, he’ll let a pass or run block off the hook too soon.

It was also on his 2023 film.

Two seasons of something showing up ⎯that’s an issue.

Fast enough?

Booker excelled at pulling at the line of scrimmage. No problem connecting on those blocks. Booker also usually had enough juice to get out in time to make the necessary block on lateral screen passes.

How about further downfield?

Booker did a ‘decent job’ making blocks at the second level (where the linebackers reside presnap). It was hit-and-miss.

How about beyond that?

That’s where his “speed deficit” showed up. It was confirmed at the NFL Scouting Combine. Per Yahoo Sports, Booker ran an “unofficial best of 5.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which was last among all offensive linemen in the combine.”

Keeping things in perspective

Booker is an offensive lineman.

While it’s cute to time them in the 40, let’s face it, 90% of his work is done at or near the line of scrimmage.

This is where he got the job done a good percentage of the time.

#52 Tyler Booker 6-foot-5, 321 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Final NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 63.1% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of March 31, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Alabama Guard Tyler Booker Works Well in Concert with O-Line (2023: 13 games evaluated)

2024 game film evaluated: Western Kentucky, South Florida, Wisconsin, Georgia, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, LSU, Mercer, Oklahoma, Auburn, and Michigan (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Tough and physical alpha. Strong-willed. Long arms that measured 34 1/2 inches at the Combine. Strong hands. Flexible. Alert. Understands the art of leverage. Shows good hand placement in pass pro. High football IQ. Handled stunts and blitzes. Knows his assignment and he’s a big brother to the other offensive linemen. Strong lower body. Solid anchor vs. bull rushes. Sturdy base. Balanced at and around the line of scrimmage. Looks more rigid in space. Good positional run blocker. Excels at authoritatively turning defenders out of running lanes. Solid sustaining. Has enough power to drive block horizontally and laterally. Can get too sloppy run blocking at times. Versatility is an added plus (filled in at left tackle vs. South Florida and held his own).

Final words

Booker moves the meter.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.