Jerry Jones puts more pressure on Tyler Booker by comparing him to Michael Irvin on a must-have aspect of Cowboys' game

Following the 2025 NFL Draft, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones couldn't hide his excitement over first-round pick Tyler Booker.

While the former Alabama standout may line up in the trenches rather than on the outside, Jones believes Booker shares a rare and invaluable trait with one of the most iconic figures in Cowboys history - Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin.

Irvin, known as "The Playmaker," was instrumental in building the Cowboys' 1990s dynasty, winning three Super Bowls and establishing a legacy built on competitiveness, toughness, and most of all, leadership.

In speaking about Booker after the draft, Jones drew a powerful comparison between the rookie guard and the legendary receiver, focusing specifically on the leadership qualities both men possess.

"Listening to Tyler, I'm reminded that I don't know that we ever see a Super Bowl that I would have a chance to be a part of if it weren't for Michael Irvin," Jones said. "Michael, we know the competitor. We know the challenger, and we know the spirit. But the part of Michael Irvin that was most impressive was he was the leader."

Booker praised for the traits that build championship teams

Though Booker plays a very different role on the field than Irvin did, Jones emphasized that the qualities that make championship teams successful transcend position.

According to the Cowboys' longtime owner, Booker exhibits the same instinctive leadership and forward-thinking mentality that helped Dallas dominate three decades ago.

"That's looking around the corner. That's awareness. This boy's got it now," Jones continued, heaping further praise on his latest first-round selection. "Same stuff. They're different now, obviously. But looking around the corner, leadership, thinking ahead, what's it going to take to win one of these things."