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Dallas Cowboys rookie guard Tyler Booker was named the team’s most underpaid player by Bleacher Report after a standout 2025 season. Booker started 14 games as a rookie and was one of the highest-graded run-blocking guards in the league, despite having a base salary of less than $1 million and a cap hit of just over $4 million.
Why it matters
Getting quality production from a player on a rookie contract is extremely valuable in the NFL, as it allows teams to allocate more resources to other positions. Booker’s strong play as a first-round pick has provided the Cowboys with a cost-effective starter at a key offensive line position.
The details
Booker, the Cowboys’ 2025 first-round pick, started 14 games as a rookie and earned the seventh-best qualified PFF run-blocking grade among NFL guards. His low salary and high level of play make him one of the most underpaid players on the Cowboys’ roster.
Booker was the Cowboys’ first-round pick in 2025.Booker started 14 games for the Cowboys in the 2025 NFL season.
The players
Tyler Booker
A rookie guard for the Dallas Cowboys who was named the team’s most underpaid player after a strong 2025 season.
Brad Gagnon
A writer for Bleacher Report who named Tyler Booker the Dallas Cowboys’ most underpaid player.
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What they’re saying
“The 2025 first-round pick looks like a long-term fixture at guard in Dallas after a strong rookie campaign in which he earned the league’s seventh-best qualified PFF run-blocking grade at that position. He’ll count just $5.1 million against the cap in ’26.”
— Brad Gagnon, Writer
The takeaway
The Cowboys’ ability to get high-level production from a rookie-contract player like Tyler Booker gives them more flexibility to build a competitive roster and allocate resources to other key positions. This is an example of the value that can be found in the NFL draft when teams hit on their early-round picks.