Though you’ve barely heard his name over the last three years, tight end Princeton Fant has been working with the Cowboys since 2023. He’s back with another chance to compete for work this offseason, hoping to avoid getting pushed out by younger TE prospects.
Background
Years in NFL: 3
Acquired by: UDFA (2023)
After a six-year run at Tennessee, Fant entered the 2023 draft with a difficult scouting profile. Listed at just 6’1”, he was well short of of the typical TE build but lacked the run-blocking skills to
offer much out of the backfield. A former RB turned TE in college, Fant’s unusual makeup and low production with the Volunteers didn’t give NFL teams much to latch onto. As such, he went undrafted but was soon signed by the Cowboys.
Dallas also added Luke Schoonmaker that spring, and had both Sean McKeon and Peyton Hendershot to fill out the depth chart behind starter Jake Ferguson. But Fant did enough to earn a spot on the practice squad, and was called up for two games for special teams work. In 2024, he was beat out for a roster spot by Brevyn Spann-Ford but again helped from the practice squad, appearing in eight games with continued focus on special teams.
Back on the practice team last year, Fant’s usage dropped to just one game as the entire TE group, plus FB Hunter Luepke, never missed time. With Fant’s contract up this offseason, Dallas did not extend a RFA tender for the third-year player. But right as free agency opened, they did re-sign him to a mimimal two-year contract.
Contract Status
Years Left: 2
2026 Cap Hit: $1.01 million
Thought he didn’t sign a futures contract with Dallas back in January, Fant essentially got the same kind of deal to return. It felt very much like depth insurance for the offseason, but he remains under contract for now as a potential camp contender.
2026 Projections
Role: Backup TE
Roster Chance: 10%
Fant’s candidacy was hurt with the UDFA signings of Michael Trigg and DJ Rogers. Now a 27-year-old, Fant is hardly a young prospect anymore. And these newcomers both offer more traditional options for the TE position, not to mention Trigg’s exciting potential as a big slot receiver. If both rookies show the Cowboys something this summer, it’s easy to see Fant getting discarded.
However, there’s also a chance at work on the actual 53-man roster. It would probably come from injury over anything else, but Fant’s experience gives him an edge for a roster spot should something befall Ferguson, Spann-Ford, Schoonmaker, or Luepke. He’s still undersized and not seen a lead blocker, so may be too much of a niche player to cover a significant role. But if the main need is special teams, Fant’s been able to hang around this long with skills in that area.
That he’s managed to stick this long is a testament to Fant’s versatility and effort. But three years is already a long stay on the practice squad, and the next wave of developmental players is here. His experience may give him an edge in certain scenarios, but he’s more likely to lose ground to the potential of younger prospects.
Check out our previous player profiles from this series:
RB Israel Abanikanda | C Cooper Beebe | G Tyler Booker | S Alijah Clark | DT Tommy Dunn | CB Cobie Durant |
OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku | TE Jake Ferguson | WR Ryan Flournoy | C Matt Hennessy | S Malik Hooker |
OLB James Houston | WR Jordan Hudson | LB Shemar James | G Trevor Keegan | CB Derion Kendrick |
OLB Isaiah Land | S P.J. Locke | FB Hunter Luepke | RB Phil Mafah | QB Joe Milton III | WR Jonathan Mingo |
CB Devin Moore | LB DeMarvion Overshown | TE DJ Rogers | TE Luke Schoonmaker | LS Trent Sieg |
WR Anthony Smith | OT Terence Steele | CB Reddy Steward | OT Nate Thomas | DT Jay Toia | OLB Tyrus Wheat | RB Javonte Williams | OLB Sam Williams | DT D.J. Withers
