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Frisco, Texas — One thing is for sure: When the Dallas Cowboys not only drafted tight end Jake Ferguson, but threw the keys to the TE1 position to him alone, they took a deep breath and knew they made the right decision. The fact is that you can know that you did it. Second year in the league.
The position has been owned by some of the most legendary players in league and franchise history, with future Hall of Famer Jason Witten headlining the list, but he's not the only player on the highlight reel. It didn't require a helmet, a healthy spleen, or an unbroken jaw to create it.
And the question is not whether Ferguson will fill that role, but rather who will fill in for him going forward as he strives to do his best.
past: Dallas' tight end position definitely has a rich history, even considering a downturn or two during the unforgettable players who laced up their cleats for the Cowboys.
An organization that has been blessed with legendary talent like Billy Joe Dupree during the Roger Staubach/Danny White era, but many may forget that fact, Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka also held the position for the Cowboys — now immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Every Cowboys fan knows about Jay Novacek, the literal cowboy-turned-cowboy who set the stage for Jason Witten to rise to unprecedented heights.
Witten, the resident iron man and holder of the franchise record for most games played (255), will eventually be inducted into the Hall of Fame if he qualifies, but he is also the holder of the franchise record for most games played (255). He also surpassed Michael Irvin in receiving yards (1,215 games) and receiving yards (12,977). These are records from a 16-season Cowboys career that will likely stand for a very long time, perhaps for generations.
Witten's stability and consistency has allowed Dallas to navigate the revolving door situation they often find themselves in next door at TE2. It brings back memories of Martellus Bennett, James Hanna, and the late Gavin Escobar (who was a fan favorite at the time). team).
Thanks to Witten and his fellow legends who came before him, the new setup with a tough ending should be just as strong as those to come. However, Jake Ferguson is off to a flying start after taking over the reins from his immediate predecessor Dalton Schultz.
the current: During his time in Dallas, Schultz was statistically Dak Prescott's favorite target, and the Cowboys ultimately chose to draft his successor, Ferguson, in the fourth round (this is no coincidence) , which was the same round they found Schultz in running back (2018), the veteran tight end was selected in the 2022 NFL Draft and knew his time was nearly over once his franchise tag expired. I was notified. It was the splash made by both Ferguson and undrafted rookie Peyton Hendershot that almost ensured this became a reality.
That led to excitement about the future of the tight end room, with Schultz joining the Houston Texans, but Ferguson found himself at the front of the order to become TE1, but there was a bit of a problem. The team then acquired Luke Schoonmaker with a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
But to Mr. Ferguson's credit, he did not take this decision lightly. Instead, he gave it his all and not only embraced Schoonmaker and coached him immediately, immediately and consistently, but found a higher gear heading into his second year. . It was a breakout season for Ferguson, who solidified his status as one of the best tight ends in the entire NFL (even Travis Kelce has acknowledged it as such), which put him at the top of Dallas' tight end crown. The debate over who is there will come to an end.
future: The biggest questions are answered, but there are still some other tough questions in the TE room. As an example, fellow elder statesman Sean McKeon contributed 100 snaps on offense and 142 snaps on special teams in 2023 alone, only to make room for Hendershot upon his return from IR. , was transferred to wounded reserve in December.
McKeon, currently an unrestricted free agent and well-loved by tight ends coach Lunda Wells and head coach Mike McCarthy, has not decided if he will re-sign for a fifth season. On the other hand, considering McKeon is a good blocker at a low cost and a consummate pro, there's a good case for keeping him in a Cowboys uniform.
Meanwhile, the team needs to truly see what kind of player Hendershot can be as he heads into his third year after a largely forgettable second year — even if he only makes one splash play on special teams. Even if there were two, most of them were spent as substitutes for injured players. Then there's John Stevens Jr., who was outstanding in his first NFL training camp last July despite being an undrafted rookie.
He suffered a torn ACL during the preseason and was forced to redshirt, but his ceiling is high given his ability to line up on a tight line as a tight end and stand on the outside as a receiver. Very expensive. And he has the length and athleticism to be a serious threat in the red zone.
It increasingly feels like Hendershot and Stevens will face off for a chance to be TE3 in upcoming training camp. That's because there is no realistic scenario in which a healthy Schoonmaker (also a second-round pick) would play. At the very least, he will be demoted to something other than TE2.
Soonmaker missed most of the first training camp due to plantar fasciitis, and it's important he stays healthy this offseason to see what kind of player he can be in 2024. It means being of paramount importance to all involved.
And only Ferguson, at the top of the totem, has a fixed role at that position, leaving other players to compete for reps behind him.
However, it is a big problem that there are so many talented young people and some of them are putting their elite status at risk.