Peyton Hendershot might be just the tight end prospect the Cowboys need

Things don’t always go according to plan. For the Dallas Cowboys, the plan for 2022 was pretty darn far from where reality came to be. The Cowboys were banking on Blake Jarwin, not Dalton Schultz, becoming the TE1 in Dallas.

If you recall, sensing a breakout, the Cowboys signed Jarwin to a three-year/ $24 million extension in 2020. Injuries derailed that plan and Jarwin would only go on to play in nine games over the next two seasons.

They never imagined Jarwin would be out of the league altogether (possible career-threatening injury) this offseason, but that’s what seemed to happened. It backed the Cowboys into a corner and forced them to franchise Dalton Schultz since they couldn’t afford to lose their top-2 TEs in the same offseason.

The Cowboys seem hesitant to lock Schultz up long-term and now face the difficult task of rebuilding the ranks top-to-bottom here in 2022. The rookie Jake Ferguson looks like the promising do-it-all prospect they Cowboys want. He has proven blocking ability in a run-heavy offense and some sticky mitts to go with it (more on Ferguson here).

Behind him the Cowboys have Sean McKeon, a blocking specialist in his second year. McKeon will never be a good pass-catching option and seems destined for a scheme specific role in Dallas. But he serves an important purpose, even if the doesn’t provide the highlight plays.

Yet, nowhere on the roster is there a “Jarwin.” Nowhere do they have a move-TE with the ability to make big plays downfield on a consistent basis. That is unless Payton Hendershot steps up in that role…

Peyton Hendershot could be just the pass-catching tight end the Dallas Cowboys need.

Like Jarwin, Hendershot comes to the NFL dripping with potential. He’s seen as a niche player to some, but a difference maker to others…

Hendershot projects as a move-TE with H-back ability. Flexed out in the slot, moving across the formation, or lined up in the backfield, Henderson offers many of the same things Jarwin did back before his career was prematurely derailed.

Hendershot is a redzone beast with run after the catch ability. He isn’t quite the seam buster that Jarwin was, but he has a feel for the shallow to intermediate zones and can collect YAC in some pretty low-percentage situations.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1519468184847273985

With just one drop in 62 targets last year, Hendershot is a reliable hands-catcher who thrives with the ball. He’s ultra-physical with the ball but his effort in blocking is poor so you want to focus him on his strengths and hide his weaknesses (rather than ask him to change).

In a world in which Jake Ferguson is the TE1 in 2023, I can see a situation where McKeon and Hendershot are splitting snaps at TE2 (depending on the play-call) since they both have very different skill sets..

Peyton Hendershot is a sleeper of sorts, who only fell out of the draft because of character concerns. If he can tap his full potential as a pass-catcher, he could serve an important role on the Dallas Cowboys at some point down the road.