In the past three months, the Dallas Cowboys saw Tyron Smith and Zack Martin, two of their greatest offensive linemen in team history, retire, but they are hoping Alabama’s Tyler Booker can continue the organization’s first-round success up front.

The Cowboys took Booker, a guard, with the 12th selection in the NFL draft Thursday night, marking the third time in the past four years that they have used their top pick on an offensive lineman.

In 2022, the Cowboys took Tyler Smith, and last year they selected Tyler Guyton. Smith has been selected to the Pro Bowl the past two years, while Guyton had a middling rookie season in 2024, starting 11 games at left tackle.

The Cowboys went from 1981 to 2011 without drafting an offensive lineman in the first round when they took Smith in the first round. They followed that with Pro Bowl center Travis Frederick in 2013 and Martin in 2014.

Martin retired in February, while Smith, who played last season with the New York Jets, retired last week after signing a deal to retire as a Cowboy.

Booker is the highest offensive lineman the Cowboys have taken since selecting Smith at No. 9 overall.

Booker, at 6-foot-4 and 321 pounds, is considered one of the best run blockers in the draft. He started 27 of 28 games in his two seasons at Alabama and was a first-team All-SEC pick last season and team captain.

While Booker is viewed as an immediate starter, the Cowboys added Robert Jones and Saahdiq Charles in free agency and also have Brock Hoffman, who started seven games at right guard last year when Martin’s season ended with an ankle injury.