While Jake Ferguson’s status for 2026 isn’t in doubt, how the upcoming season goes for him could raise doubts about 2027 and beyond. The Dallas Cowboys’ starting tight end is the next man up in our roster rundown series.
Background
Years in NFL: 4
Acquired by: 2022 4th-round pick
The Cowboys went into the 2022 NFL Draft knowing they might need a new starting TE soon. While Dalton Schultz was set to return that year on the franchise tag, part of that decision was because Dallas wasn’t ready to make a long-term
commitment. When they selected Wisconsin’s Jake Ferguson in the fourth round, it was partially as a depth move but also with a thought toward a potential replacement for Schultz.
As a rookie, Ferguson saw limited action behind Schultz but flashed play-making potential. He established himself as a more dynamic receiving threat, particularly after the catch. His playing style, and on-field attitude, quickly attracted fans. That included the front office, who let Schultz walk the following offseason and handed the starting job to Ferguson.
Ferguson’s 2023 season has arguably been his best so far. He posted a career-high 761 receiving yards and 10.7 yards per catch, making his first Pro Bowl as an injury replacement. While Ferguson had career highs in 2025 with 82 receptions and eight touchdowns, and again made the Pro Bowl as an alternate, his yards and efficiency were down. Ferguson has battled injuries the last two years, making his play on the field less exciting than in that breakout 2023 campaign.
Still, Ferguson enters 2026 with plenty of room for optimism. If healthy again, he has proven chemistry with Dak Prescott and a dynamic WR duo to keep defenders off of him. Still just 27, Ferguson has a great opportunity to not only get back to the Pro Bowl, maybe this time as an original selection, but also add an All-Pro award to his résumé.
Even with a modestly productive season, Ferguson is poised to move into top-five territory among the Cowboys’ all-time tight ends. Jason Witten, Jay Novacek, Doug Cosbie, and Billy Joe Dupree are the top four in every statistical category, and Ferguson is already fifth in career catches. He only needs 114 yards and three touchdowns to pass Schultz for the fifth spot on those lists.
Contract Status
Years Left: 4
2026 Cap Hit: $10.4 million
Even with a couple of down years, Ferguson is still performing up to his compensation. The $12.5 million average on his deal is well below the $19 million that George Kittle and Trey McBride make every year. Ferguson is tied for seventh on the highest-paid TE list: pretty fair for a guy who’s a perennial borderline Pro Bowler.
As long as he maintains that level of play, Ferguson should be safe through 2028. It’s 2029 where things really get interesting, when his cap hit shoots up to $19.8 million at 30-years-old. In three years, that may still sound like a discount depending on what other tight ends are making.
The only real threat for Ferguson right now is injuries. Dallas hasn’t done any restructuring on his deal yet, leaving themselves some flexibility even as soon as this year. In 2027, the Cowboys could save $2.2 million off the cap with an outright release and $7 million with a June-1st cut. While we certainly don’t expect Ferguson’s Dallas run to come to such a quick end, there is a least an open door there that doesn’t already exist with veteran Cowboys players. Dallas will have options, so Ferguson has to make sure they have no desire to use them.
2026 Projections
Role: Starting TE
Roster Chance: 100%
Again, we have no doubt that Ferguson returns this year to his starting role. The questions at TE are well beneath him – can Luke Schoonmaker save his job, can Brevyn Spann-Ford emerge as the clear TE2, and can Michael Trigg be an undrafted gem? But no matter how those situations go, none of them are suddenly going to present a threat to Ferguson.
But even if he’s safe now, Ferguson still needs a strong 2026 to keep it that way. The rising anxiety about his health and performance, and the flexibility we discussed in his contract, don’t give him that much remaining cushion. In last month’s draft, if the top defensive players had all been scarfed up, many were comfortable with the idea of Dallas using the 12th-overall pick on TE Kenyon Sadiq. That was very much a response to Ferguson’s down stock.
Will Cowboys fans still have wandering eyes about potential TE upgrades next spring, or will Jake Ferguson get the bandwagon rolling again? That’s not only a big question for him in 2026, but a big factor in just how potent this Dallas offense is going to be.
Check out our previous player profiles from this series:
G Tyler Booker
WR Jonathan Mingo
LB Shemar James
LS Trent Sieg
G Trevor Keegan
EDGE Tyrus Wheat
FB Hunter Luepke
S Alijah Clark
