Not all Dallas Cowboys fans are happy with the team’s current options at tight end, but Brian Schottenheimer doesn’t seem to agree. During a Saturday press conference at the team’s rookie minicamp, Dallas’ head coach praised the overall group while discussing some of the rookies participating in the current practices.
Schottenheimer was asked about early impressions of undrafted free agents Michael Trigg and D.J. Rogers from the week’s activities. But while discussing them, he also mentioned how they’d
fit into the bigger picture at tight end:
“I’m really excited about those two young men, and adding it to a group that I feel is one of the most stable positions on our roster.”
That sentiment was not what we heard for much of the Cowboys’ offseason. Many are disappointed with Jake Ferguson’s play over the last two years, seeing a drop-off from his breakout in 2023. Many are done with Luke Schoonmaker after his first three seasons, offering little return for a second-round pick. And while Brevyn Spann-Ford has more fans than critics at this point, he’s still not the most exciting prospect for any major future role.
So, where does Schotty see stability with this group? While his explosive plays and other metrics are down since 2023, Ferguson is still a very reliable target in the passing game. He was good for 82 catches on 102 targets last year, a strong 80% success rate. While only getting 600 yards on those catches was problematic, Ferguson’s eight touchdowns last year were a career high and tied for the third-highest among all TEs. He was an injury substitute for the NFC Pro Bowl roster, his second appearance there in three seasons.
On the plus side, Ferguson was still productive despite a nagging leg injury. Having also battled health issues in 2024, there’s hope that this season will see a return to 2023 form. A fully healthy Ferguson could be more dangerous than ever in a passing game that features CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, plus Ferguson’s strong chemistry with Dak Prescott.
While Schoonmaker has been disappointing for his draft status, and Spann-Ford still has more to prove, you can also see why Schotty is content with them as depth and competitors for the backup job. Both now have solid NFL experience and room for continued growth as third- and fourth-year players, respectively. Whoever emerges from that battle should be a better TE2 than we had last year, and the other a capable third player on the depth chart.
Certainly, the Cowboys could use a more dynamic player in their TE room. That’s why there’s buzz around Michael Trigg, who fell out of the draft more for character concerns than his receiving potential. But for him and D.J. Rodgers, cracking into Dallas’ current trio won’t be easy. The veterans just got a nice endorsement from their head coach, and all have their own room to develop and improve this season.
