Latest news with #LukeSchoonmaker
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jake Ferguson's $52 million contract exposes Cowboys' draft mistake
Jake Ferguson's new contract should be a happy day for the Cowboys front office. A fourth round pick turned into Dak Prescott's security blanket for the future. But beneath the high-fives and congratulations is an underhanded admittance that Dallas whiffed on a draft pick not too long ago. A year after Ferguson was drafted, the Cowboys selected tight end Luke Schoonmaker in the second round of the 2023 draft. At the time, Ferguson only had 19 receptions for 174 yards his rookie year. Dalton Schultz was the starter that season but the Cowboys moved on from him. Schoonmaker, out of the University of Michigan, was expected to be an excellent blocking and pass-catching tight end. Instead it was Ferguson who stood out as a secure target over the middle while Schoonmaker struggled. The former Wolverine only had 27 receptions for 241 yards and one touchdown last season. He hasn't proven worthy of a second round investment. The Ferguson contract shows the Cowboys front office is admitting defeat on Schoonmaker. He has two years left on his rookie deal and still has a chance to prove himself, but Ferguson has taken the mantle as the primary tight end. It will take an injury or catastrophic shift if Dallas was to ever view Schoonmaker as a good pick. It's a rare miss for a front office that has drafted some elite talent. MORE: Cowboys' Jaydon Blue shows off one-handed catch in pursuit of starting running back role
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hype growing for 3rd-string Cowboy, and for good reason
The Dallas Cowboys are never short on hype this time of year. Hopes and expectations are through the roof. Prior disappointments are but a distant memory. And optimism just seems to reign supreme under the summertime vibes of "anything's possible." Typically, hype like this will center around star players, new coaches, or high variance rookies. Those elements of the team bring the highest upside and have the most influence. But in this particular case the hype revolves around an undrafted, second-year player who sits No. 3 on most everyone's preseason depth charts, tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford. Advertisement Like a few tantalizing TE prospects who came before him, Spann-Ford is captivating the fanbase. The 'what if's' are running rampant as Spann-Ford's immense potential fuels daydreams of finding yet another diamond in the rough for this exceedingly lucky franchise. Physically, Spann-Ford stands head and shoulders above the competition. His 6-foot-7, 280-pound build is a noticeable upsize to Jake Ferguson (6-foot-5, 244-pounds) and Luke Schoonmaker (6-foot-5, 250-pounds) and his career trajectory signals an undetermined ceiling for his future. Spann-Ford is already arguably the Cowboys' best blocker. His mammoth frame and physical skillset give him an obvious advantage. The Cowboys' renewed focus on improving the running game makes that blocking dynamic an especially valuable trait heading into the new season. Both the offensive coordinator, Klayton Adams, and the offensive line coach, Conor Riley, demand strong blocking contributions from their TEs. Playmaking downfield is obviously important too, but inline blocking is a staple that gets extra pull from this coaching staff. In Spann-Ford's first season, he saw an increase in snaps as the season progressed, even exceeding that of Schoonmaker late in the year. While it's extremely unlikely he'll leapfrog into a starting role in 2025, it's not absurd, and almost expected that he'll challenge for second most snaps at the position this season. With Ferguson a free agent after the season and Schoonmaker just a year behind him, Spann-Ford is under team control the longest of the top three. It gives the coaching staff the incentive to groom and invest in the 25-year-old. Advertisement As one can see, there are a few valid reasons fans are abnormally bullish on this young and ascending player. He plays a high impact position of need, packs truckloads of potential, fits the coaching staff perfectly and is under inexpensive team control for multiple years. It's ok to be excited about this guy. You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans! This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: There's a good reason this third string Cowboys player is getting hype
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Depth Chart: Question marks remain at tight end behind Jake Ferguson
The Dallas Cowboys are less than a month away from departing for Oxnard, Calif., for training camp, as the Brian Schottenheimer era approaches its official beginning on July 21. In the Cowboys Depth Chart series, we will take a look at each position group to determine which players are safe, on the bubble or have work to do in terms of making the 53-man roster coming out of training camp in late August. Advertisement At the tight end position, a turbulent year around him in 2024 didn't allow for any consistency for Jake Ferguson, especially when factoring in his injuries. Behind him, Luke Schoonmaker never found consistent reps and Brevyn Spann-Ford was used in situational blocking opportunities. Here is a look at the tight end position group heading into training camp. SAFE (3) Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Luke Schoonmaker Heading into a contract year, Jake Ferguson has added motivation to either return to his Pro Bowl level of play that he displayed in 2023 or to elevate from that. He remains the clear first option in the passing game and should see the majority of snaps in both passing and heavy personnel packages. Advertisement Behind him, a battle awaits in Oxnard, as second-year undrafted Brevyn Spann-Ford has made an offseason push to be the second option ahead of 2023 second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker. If he is able to surpass Schoonmaker on the depth chart, it may put the Michigan product closer to the bubble than he's been going into his third NFL season. ON THE BUBBLE (2) John Stephens Jr., Princeton Fant If Schottenheimer decides to take three tight ends, then the bubble obviously shrinks. But if he sticks with carrying four tight ends like his predecessor Mike McCarthy did, then one of these two names will have a great shot at sneaking onto the 53-man roster. Before tearing his ACL in each of the last two training camps, John Stephens Jr. had excited the coaching staff enough in training camp and preseason to be on pace to make the roster. But after back-to-back major knee injuries, can he bring the same juice in the receiving game in his third training camp? The advantage he will have is his unique ability to stretch the field from the tight end spot, hence why he earned the nickname 'Stretch' at training camp in 2023. Advertisement In 10 career games, Princeton Fant has shown value on special teams in all four phases. On offense, he has only seen the field for 14 career snaps with all coming in blocking situations. For him to crack the 53-man roster, he will need to flash some offensive value, but he'll have a leg up with his experience on special teams. WORK TO DO (2) Rivaldo Fairweather, Tyler Neville As undrafted rookies, Rivaldo Fairweather and Tyler Neville have an uphill battle at corralling the final roster spot in the tight end room. But with an encouraging performance in the preseason and unfulfilled expectations above them on the depth chart, either could inch closer toward that being a reality. Fairweather brings some intriguing red zone value on offense while Neville has flashed blocking ability, but they will need to show big special teams value to earn the final roster spot in the position room. With not a lot of clarity on certain placements on the depth chart above them, there could be an inside track with a strong start in Oxnard.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Rave About Shocking Rise Of UDFA 'Stealing' Snaps
Cowboys Rave About Shocking Rise Of UDFA 'Stealing' Snaps originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Every offseason, we see a player take a jump that not many see coming, and as OTAs and minicamp have concluded for the Dallas Cowboys, undrafted free agent Brevyn Spann-Ford appears to be that guy. Advertisement With a tight end room consisting of Jake Ferguson, who is coming off a down year, and Luke Schoonmaker, who hasn't amounted to anything substantial in his two seasons, Spann-Ford is making head coach Brian Schottenheimer take notice. Viewed by some as not the most fluid pass catcher, but more of a stud blocker, Spann-Ford has been putting in the work this offseason, to the point where some think that as we turn to training camp in Oxnard, he is the No. 2 tight end behind Ferguson. 'He had an incredible offseason, he really did,' Schottenheimer said of Brevyn. 'The size alone, he really moves well. I think he added like six or seven pounds of lean muscle mass. This guy is not just a run blocker, pass protector, this guy can be a weapon because of his size in the middle of the field, matched up on linebackers and safeties. "The thing I've loved about Brev from day one is you knew that this was not too big for him, mentally he knew I belong here doesn't matter how I got here, I belong here. He's pushing Fergie and Schoony and he's already made the jump, again he's another guy that when he puts the pads on you're going to see him and feel him.' Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Again, this was the Underwear Olympics, so when the pads come on in training camp, we will see if Spann-Ford – noticeable at 6-7 and 270 pounds – can carry over his good work. Advertisement But one thing is for certain – he's off to a cracking start. Says insider Mike Fisher: "Ferguson is the guy. But Spann-Ford is stealing snaps at tight end.'' While he still needs more polish as a pass catcher, he has shown he can be a viable option, having had three games with 20+ yards receiving, including a four-reception, 42-yard game against the Houston Texans last season. So the upside is there. Now he just has to make it count in training camp, because while Dallas won't be cutting Schoonmaker, it could easily "relegate" him to be the third tight end on the depth chart. And if that happens, who knows what that means for his Cowboys future, because Spann-Ford, right now, is showing him a clean set of heels. Advertisement Related: Cowboys Insider Says Miles Sanders Bidding For Starting Role at OTAs Related: Schotty Delivers Emotional Message To Dallas Cowboys This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
