Latest news with #ZackMartin
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rookie Tyler Booker's 'Legal Assault' Already Compares to Four Dallas Cowboys Legends
Rookie Tyler Booker's 'Legal Assault' Already Compares to Four Dallas Cowboys Legends originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Dallas Cowboys may have found their next standout O-lineman in Alabama's Tyler Booker who they selected with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Advertisement Booker's arrival comes at a pivotal time, as future Hall of Famer Zack Martin retired following the 2024 season—leaving a major void on the offensive line. And so far? Booker has been better than advertised after a strong summer of early offseason workouts. 'Despite the padless practices, Booker has impressed with his willingness to learn and work,' ESPN's Todd Archer wrote. 'He has been with the starters from the first OTA through the minicamp, so there's no pretense about what is expected. He is being viewed the same way the Cowboys have viewed Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin and Tyler Smith: as a Day 1 starter.' It should come as no surprise Booker is a plug and play starter after dominating collegiate competition. He stands 6-5, 321 pounds and plays the game with the type of nastiness and aggression that makes opposing defenders 'not love football anymore.' Advertisement His Draft time quote resonates ... 'I just love the aggressiveness and the tenacity of the game of football. It's legal assault out there,' Booker said. 'I love football. The brand of football I play, I make guys not love football anymore.' Booker is a natural leader and has shown an impressive willingness to continue learning the nuances of his position at the NFL level. 'Whether it's the responsibilities that (Booker) has to bring to the huddle or whether it's his communications on the line, he's doing a hell of a job,' quarterback Dak Prescott said. 'And you can tell this guy is a football player. Guy has a lot of pride standard in what he does.' Advertisement With his physical tools and winning mindset, Booker will be a cornerstone of the Cowboys' offensive line for years to come. Related: Cowboys' Dak Prescott Given Shocking Ranking Among Top 10 Quarterbacks Related: Cowboys' Dez Bryant Issues All-In Super Bowl Prediction for NFC East This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys fortified OL with versatile, $3.7 million reclamation project
The Dallas Cowboys went about fixing things along their offensive line in the right way this past spring. Faced with a deteriorating group starting in 2024, they continued working on the position to ensure they would be able to better protect Dak Prescott. With the added stress from the retirement of future Hall of Famer Zack Martin, the team went about adding multiple players to find a solution to their needs. Prior to drafting Alabama's Tyler Booker, the team added three players in free agency; ERFA Brock Hoffman along with Saahdiq Charles and Hakeem Adeniji. Adejini is an intriguing addition as he has both inside and outside versatility, but like Charles missed all of 2024. While Charles walked away from the game presumably healthy, Adeniji missed the season due to a preseason knee injury suffered while with the Cleveland Browns. He now seeks to become a premiere backup for a reconstructed Cowboys OL. Rundown EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 21: Hakeem Adeniji #77 of the Cincinnati Bengals jogs toward the bench during the first half of a preseason game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on August 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by) Position: Offensive Line Advertisement Age: 27 Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 315 pounds Hometown: Garland, TX High School: Garland College: Kansas (Video) Draft: 2020 Sixth-round pick (No. 180 Overall) Acquired: 2025 Free Agency Contract: One-year contract (2025), $1.1 million 2025 Base Salary: $1.17 million Career Earnings: $3.76 million (per Over The Cap) Profile Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji (74) is helped off the field during the second half of an NFL preseason football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans! This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Dallas Cowboys player profile: No. 75 OL Hakeem Adeniji
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Cap Threatened By Massive $85 Million Tyler Smith Contract Prediction
Cowboys Cap Threatened By Massive $85 Million Tyler Smith Contract Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Offensive lineman Tyler Smith was snubbed from CBS Sports' list of the top 25 players under 25 years old in the NFL. However, that does not deflate the sky-high belief that the Dallas Cowboys have in their 2022 first-round pick. Advertisement Upon joining "America's Team", Smith moved from tackle to guard, nestling in nicely on the left side of the line - the opposite side of the center from All-Pro and future Hall of Famer Zack Martin. Smith has channeled all the knowledge poured into him by Martin into a stellar start to his career, highlighted by an All-Pro finish in his second season protecting prized quarterback Dak Prescott. Rankings be damned ... Tyler Smith, 24, is among the best interior offensive lineman in the NFL, and certainly among those his age. Now with Martin retired, Smith is ushered into a unique leadership opportunity to be the physical and emotional anchor of the O-line. Advertisement He's also approaching a massive payday to prove that worth. One that could see Smith compensated at a near top-of-the-market price. Blogging the Boys predicted Smith's extension to follow the trend of the recent explosion in offensive guard value, which could put the Cowboys in deep waters. "With the guard market really expanding and teams taking care of their players early, four-year extensions seem to be the blueprint at the position," writer Rohan Chakravarthi noted. Chakravarthi projects Smith to receive a massive four-year, $85 million contract with $53 million guaranteed. As of right now, that average annual salary of $21 million would be the second-richest contract for an offensive guard in the entire NFL. The guaranteed total would also rank in the top 10 of all offensive lineman. Advertisement Take that for rankings. Obviously, this won't be easy. But Dallas has already taken the preliminary steps to prepare for this type of investment. This offseason, the Cowboys picked up Smith's fifth-year option for 2026, locking him down in Big D for at least the next two seasons. "The good news for Dallas is that they can spread the cap hit over six possible years, given that Smith would have the two years on his rookie deal remaining, plus the four extension years on his overall deal," Chakravarthi added. But that's if the Cowboys get a deal done now ... and judging by their pace in progressing a Micah Parsons extension, that is unlikely. Advertisement Still, as Smith approaches the extension window, it is in owner Jerry Jones' best interest to secure him long-term amid the other looming cap gymnastics Dallas must navigate in coming years. Smith is joined by standout contributors like Parsons, DaRon Bland, Brandon Aubrey and newcomer George Pickens in line for a new deal. Aside from Micah - who Cowboys fans have been praying reaches an inevitable agreement soon - Smith is the priority. He is certainly deserving of the figure, but this extraordinary prediction further emphasizes the pressure the Cowboys' front office will be under in managing this deal - among others. Related: Cowboys Can't Waste 'Blow It Up' Plan Under New Coach Related: Cowboys' Superstars Still Looking Up at Eagles in NFC East This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Cowboys' Dak Prescott says legacy takes a back seat in Super Bowl pursuit, wants to win for personal 'sanity'
Earlier this year, longtime Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Zack Martin retired after 11 seasons with the team. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is entering his 10th season in Dallas. Martin's departure made the 31-year-old Prescott the longest-tenured player on the Cowboys' roster. Prescott recently reflected on his career and admitted the past decade has gone by quickly. "It's not hard to be reflective," he said Thursday at the Cowboys' mandatory minicamp. "I think you have to, especially with how [his 10 seasons] have been. Some being injured, some getting to knocking on the door and not finishing it. What it does really is just makes you grateful for the opportunity. Every day you get to walk into this building, you're healthy. Every day you get to approach your teammates. You get to approach this game that you love." The Cowboys finished with a disappointing 7-10 record last season, but the new season will bring changes to the team's roster and coaching staff. Prescott will have a new wide receiver in 2025, George Pickens. Last month, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded Pickens to the Cowboys. The franchise also moved on from coach Mike McCarthy and promoted Brian Schottenheimer to head coach. Prescott has received numerous accolades over the course of his NFL career, including offensive Rookie of the Year in 2015 and leading the league in passing touchdowns in 2023. But he has a 2-5 postseason record and has never made it to a conference championship game or Super Bowl. While Prescott wants to win a Super Bowl ring, he made it clear he is not pursing the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy to secure his personal legacy. "I want to win a championship," Prescott said. "The legacy, whatever comes after I finish playing, will take care of itself. I want to win a championship. Be damned if it's just for my legacy or if it's for this team. It's for my personal being, for my sanity. The legacy will take care of itself. "For me, it's about not taking anything for granted," he added. "Living in the moment, soaking up everything and just making sure I'm the best version of myself to push these other guys to do that. I know we'll feel good about the results." Prescott missed nine games last season with a hamstring injury, and the Cowboys missed the playoffs. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Tyler Booker In Prime Position For O-Line Superstardom
The Dallas Cowboys fortified its offensive line by drafting Alabama Crimson Tide offensive guard Tyler Booker with the No. 12 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Booker fills an immediate need at right guard after future Hall of Fame inductee Zack Martin retired earlier in the offseason. And the positive vibes continue as according to analyst Marc Ross, Booker is one of the 10 rookies in the best position to succeed. Advertisement "The Cowboys have a history of finding elite offensive linemen in the draft, including eight-time Pro Bowler Tyron Smith (2011), nine-time Pro Bowler Zack Martin (2014) and two-time Pro Bowler Tyler Smith (2022)," Ross wrote. "Now they have added a pro-ready guard in Booker. He's a tough, nasty and technical building block for Dallas' front. The Cowboys offense is at its best when the big boys in the trenches are controlling the line of scrimmage. Booker can help it return to being a prolific unit in the run and pass games." The new look offensive line for the Cowboys will be young and powerful, no doubt. The starting unit will likely feature Tyler Guyton at left tackle, All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe at center, Booker at right guard, and Terrence Steele at right tackle. Advertisement Really, the maturation of second-year first-round pick Guyton is the biggest looming question mark. At the start of the 2025 season, Dallas will have four starting offensive lineman under the age of 25, with Terrence Steele being the 'elder statesman' at the current age of 27. Is there such a thing as an "O-line superstar''? Dallas can argue that Martin and another recent retiree Tyron Smith qualify. Those are monster-sized cleats to fill. So, for now? Booker will serve as yet another valuable investment in the backbone of every offense and Cowboys Nation certainly hopes he will not disappoint. Related: Cowboys Open NFL Schedule With 2 NFC East Games Before Chiefs Thanksgiving Visit
