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FRISCO, TX — The tight end position is a tricky one to discuss as it pertains to Dallas Cowboys' free agency, mostly because the top-3 players at that position are all under contract for 2026. That doesn't mean no discussion can be had about it at all, though.
Fact is, two-time Pro Bowl tight end Jake Ferguson is the only one of those three under contract beyond 2026 and, considering two-thirds of the depth chart isn't secured beyond this coming season, means keeping one eye on the future of Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford, both of whom would like to open contract negotiations as early as this year.
Welcome to this year's Open Market series, beginning with a look at free agent options at TE.
What's Here
Brevyn Spann-Ford: It was just yesterday that John Stephens Jr. was the youngest tight end in Dallas with the most promise, but injuries derailed his young career before it could ever get started, and Spann-Ford became a beneficiary of the situation — as is often the case in sports. A physical specimen that's unbelievably athletic and a monstrous blocker, Spann-Ford is, as of late, beginning to show an ability to affect the passing attack as well, so the ceiling is very high for the undrafted Golden Gopher. But, considering he's a restricted free agent in 2027, he'll need to continue his level-up in 2026.
Luke Schoonmaker: Despite having determined the No. 1 tight end in the room was Ferguson, the Cowboys still opted to spend a second-round pick to acquire Schoonmaker out of Michigan in 2023. That put a ton of pressure on the former Wolverine to step in and immediately become the complementary piece to Ferguson, but he got off to a slow start and is only recently developing as a receiving threat, his blocking ability having never been in question. It'll be interesting to see if he can force the Cowboys' hand when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2027, the only way to do it being to figure out how to have a breakout season in the next few months.
What's Out There
Note: These players will be unrestricted on March 11, barring a newly-signed deal with their incumbent team prior to that date. (Market value, when available, provided by Spotrac)
Dallas Goedert: Key to note here is the fact that anyone on this list is a free agent this offseason, and maybe not next year this time, but prove-it deals are still a thing in the NFL so, let's give this a go — beginning with Goedert. The longtime NFC East foe responsible for the Eagles opting to move on from Zach Ertz, and he's both a reliable offensive target, more so proven than both Schoonmaker and Spann-Ford, and his 11 touchdowns in 2025 provide evidence to the fact; plus, his projected salary is reasonable for the Cowboys. (Market value: $6M annually)
Austin Hooper: A little more likely than Goedert to land a one-year deal in 2025, is Hooper, making him an option to keep an eye on for later, or to bring in now for short money to create more competition at the tight end position, but also realizing he's not a longterm solution. The 31-year-old is highly durable and very dependable in all aspects of the game, not to mention having a great pre-existing relationship with Dak Prescott. Again, we're just kicking tires, at this point in this conversation. (Market value: $2.4M annually)
Princeton Fant: Simply put, Fant has been a reliable special teams option for the Cowboys since they signed him as an undrafted prospect out of Tennessee in 2023, also providing emergency services at the position on offense due to injury, a time or two. Fant wasn't signed to a futures deal in January, making him a free agent that could very well be brought back to Dallas with a shot at proving something for beyond 2026, and for veteran minimum money.
Honorable Mention: Isaiah Likely, Kyle Pitts, Cade Otton
I'll keep this short for likely, Pitts and Otton — they are all projected to earn more than $8 million annually on their new contracts and that, to me, makes them unpalatable for the Cowboys as they work to sign George Pickens and rebuild their entire defense.
