The NFL Draft is finally upon us. Before the first round gets underway on April 24, let's recap what the Cowboys have done so far this offseason.
Whether it was re-signing their own players, adding new ones in free agency or making a few trades, the Cowboys were rather active in reshaping the roster under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
So let's take a closer look at what each position currently looks like, moving onto the tight end room next.
What Happened: The short answer? Really, nothing. All five tight ends on the Cowboys roster are under contract and are on the younger side of things, with Jake Ferguson serving as the veteran in the room with three NFL seasons under his belt. That means the Cowboys are content with being young at the position and are pleased with the production they've gotten from the room so far. Most notably, the back half of the season saw Luke Schoonmaker take a step in the right direction after struggling in his first year and a half with Dallas. He stepped up when Ferguson was sidelined with a concussion and finished the season with 241 receiving yards and a touchdown. Now, eyes will turn to Princeton Fant, Brevyn Spann-Ford and John Stephens Jr. to take a similar next step in their development going forward.
What's Up: Jake Ferguson is going into a contract year, and the 2024 season changed how much of a slam dunk it was that he'd be extended. After a Pro Bowl campaign in 2023 where Ferguson put up 761 yards and five touchdowns, he slid in his third season with just 494 yards and didn't find the endzone once in 14 games. Injuries played a part in some of that, but all in all Ferguson wasn't the same player that the Cowboys saw in 2023. If he gets back to that level, especially with how much Dak Prescott relied on him when he was on the field, then Ferguson is in a prime position for an extension with the Cowboys. It'll be up to his supporting cast in Schoonmaker and Spann-Ford to be there behind him as the second and third options, the same order they were in last year on the depth chart.
What's Next: The Cowboys are happy with the bodies they have in the tight end room, but could they consider picking up another tight end at some point in the draft? If they do, it'll likely be very late or in the undrafted free agent ranks simply because of the outlook of the room on the current roster. Speaking of players on their roster, a big next step will be seeing if John Stephens Jr. can stay healthy. The organization has been excited about his potential, but he's torn his ACL twice in his first two NFL seasons. Princeton Fant has been a solid option as a special teams player and is better as an in-line blocker, so does he get utilized more in a Brian Schottenheimer scheme that wants to emphasize running the football? It certainly wouldn't hurt. Then the final, and maybe most pressing question, is do Schoonmaker and Spann-Ford get better behind Ferguson? Or conversely, does one of them overtake him on the depth chart if struggles continue? Options are a good thing to have for the Cowboys, and they've got them at the tight end spot.
