The Arizona Cardinals must call G Tyler Booker’s name Thursday evening

When it is time for the Arizona Cardinals to make the 16th selection in the draft, I surely dont know who the pick will be.However, I do know who it should be: Alabama guard Tyler Booker.Looking at what seems like thousands of mock drafts that have been published in recent weeks, there is no shortage of players named for the Cardinals.

There are edge rushers, interior defensive linemen, wide receivers, tackles and cornerbacks.Whoemver the Cardinals choose will likely be good player.

But no one makes more sense than Booker, a guy who was a team captain for the Crimson Tide and aside from ability, has the passion and love for the game head coach Jonathan Gannon covets.Most important, Booker can be a Day 1 starter at the one spot on the offensive line that is open: right guard.Yes, he played mostly left guard in college after his freshman season, but he spent pre-draft time working at right guard and center with offensive line trainer, who some call a guru, Duke Manyweather.Perhaps its destiny that in Manyweathers career, one of the players he worked with was Zack Martin, who was a tackle in college at Notre Dame, but was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2014 draft to play right guard.Oh, did I mention that Martin went off the board with the ...

16th choice? All he did before retiring this offseason was start all 162 games he played while being a first-team All-Pro seven times, second team twice and named to the All-Decade team for the 2010s.

In seven of his 11 seasons, he played 1,000-plus snaps.

Martin will surely be in the Hall-of-Fame discussion when he becomes eligible in 2030.It's obviously premature to predict that Booker will follow that path.

But its not a stretch to say he has the pedigree and motivation to be that elite.Listen to former Alabama defensive end Will Anderson Jr., the third overall pick in the 2023 draft, who told the Tuscaloosa News recently, "Great character guy.

I think he has all the attributes you need to play the offensive line position.

He's a mauler, he loves to finish blocks, his leadership skills, his mentality.

He wants to be the best, and he's very hard on himself."I'm kind of the same way.

That's what builds you up.

That's what makes who you are.

And he has all those things, man.

I can't say enough good things about him.

Wherever he ends up, he's going to change that team, change that program and change the offensive line for sure."Dane Brugler, the draft evaluator for The Athletic, wrote, In pass protection, you want your guards creating the depth of the pocket by answering and anchoring, which Booker does at a high level.

In the run game, you want your guards driving and creating room with the intent of dominating their man, which Booker also does consistently.The next step for him is to continue developing his savviness to counter/reach high-end athleticism and blitzes that cross his face.

Overall, Booker is built like a bull, with the play strength and finishing mentality to match.

He projects as an immediate starting guard with the tools and competitive character that are easy to bet on.One NFL scout told Brugler, He keeps everyone accountable in that locker room.

After (the) Vandy loss, Book was the guy who got everyone back on track.Booker turned 21 on April 12, and his father William always knew the NFL would be in his future.William told the Stamford (Connecticut) Advocate he placed a football in his sons bassinet on the first day home from the hospital in New Haven.He said, I knew because of my love for the game that he was going to be a football player.

So, when he was born, I already had bought the football, and when my wife (Tashona) and I brought him home, I put it right in his bassinet.Tyler said, Im very glad that my dad had that much passion way back then.

That is where it started.

I mean, literally from birth, I knew this was what I wanted to do.

And its a true story that when I was 5 years old, I told him I was going to play in the NFL.

A lot of people get caught up in the shock and awe of being where they are.

For me, I do take time to enjoy it and appreciate where I am, but Ive known this was going to happen since I was 5.There were football camps he attended, including four years at Nick Sabans camp, plus experiencing a high level of competition when he played high-school ball at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.Obviously, it is known that football down south is taken a little more seriously, Tyler said of his experience at the Alabama camp.

So, I was like, OK, Im going to go down here and compete with these boys from down south and see how I do.

When I went there and dominated, I was like, OK, I know I can do this on a high level and on a professional level.William told the Advocate, There would be times when family members would talk to my wife and say, Are you sure he is not pushing Tyler too hard? I would hear them, and I would say, Pushing him? He is pushing me!Tyler, agreed, saying, It was me pushing him.

He would be like, Are you sure you dont need a break? Are you sure you want this? and I would be like, I dont want a break.

I want to do whatever it takes.

He heard me, and he ran with it.He added, Obviously, I was a kid so there were days when I didnt feel like working out, and he would say, No, son.

You told me you wanted this.

We are going to go get it.Its illuminating to hear Booker describe himself, not in an arrogant way, but with sincerity and confidence.Im a mauler, he said to the Advocate.

Im physical.

Im nasty, and I play very aggressive.

I grew up a Steelers fan watching guys like Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, Ike Taylor and Ryan Clark.

I felt like, This is the way football is supposed to be played.

What I will bring to an NFL team is something that no other player in the draft class can bring.

That is me physically being a dominant presence and adding an offensive weapon to your team.

I see myself as a weapon.But even more importantly, on top of everything I bring to the game physically, is how I lead, how I can change a program and how I can elevate a program.

Yeah, my play is elite, but you are going to get so much more out of me on the field and off.That is music to the ears of general manager Monti Ossenfort and Co., as well Cardinals fans.It seems clear whatever team lands Booker will be happy they did.

Lets hope no team selects him in the first 15 choices and that the Cardinals dont hesitate to bring him to Arizona.Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast.

Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts..oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL draft: Arizona Cardinals should draft Alabama G Tyler Booker.

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