Throughout the offseason and OTAs, most of the attention has been on the Dallas Cowboys' wide receivers and running backs, which is not surprising given the circumstances at those spots.
The Cowboys bolstered their WR unit last month, acquiring George Pickens in a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, giving them potentially one of the best duos in the league. And then at the running back position, it's going to be a competitive battle as vets Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders look to hold off rookies Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah.
That said, Cowboys fans should also be keeping an eye on the tight end room. Starter Jake Ferguson is entering the last year of his rookie deal as he’s emerged as a top-15 tight end in the league.
Meanwhile, former second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker is still looking to have that breakout season. Schoonmaker is entering his third year with the Cowboys and won’t hit free agency until 2027.
However, the 26-year-old will have a battle on his hands this summer with Brevyn Spann-Ford, who is making plays in OTAs and could make Schoonmaker expendable.
According to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Spann-Ford “looked unstoppable” and made multiple catches in an OTA practice last month.
A few Cowboys OTAs notes:
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) May 20, 2025
- WR George Pickens hauled in a pair of receptions on a quick slant and a comeback along the left sideline
- DB Juanyeh Thomas played at safety and in the slot
- LB group was flying around (Shemar James & Buddy Johnson INTs, solid coverage from others)…
If you are the Cowboys coaching staff, this is excellent news, as Spann-Ford has spent the last year developing after making the team as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft.
Coming out of college, Spann-Ford was known for his athleticism as he could play all three tight spots. That said, Spann dealt with drops in his final year at the University of Minnesota (9), but he immediately cleaned that up in his rookie season. He had nine receptions (14 targets) for 88 yards, with zero drops.
He almost had similar numbers to Schoonmaker’s rookie season in 2023 – eight receptions (15 targets) for 65 yards and two touchdowns.
When Ferguson got banged up last year, Schoonmaker took advantage of the extra reps. In six starts, he averaged 25.5 yards per game and had three games with three or more receptions.
Those aren’t exactly stellar numbers, but his progression from Year 1 to Year 2 could be enticing for a team looking for a young tight end. The Cowboys likely don’t want to pay two tight ends in consecutive offseasons.
Ferguson should be a lock to stay for the long term, and if Spann-Ford continues to make plays in mandatory minicamp and training camp, Dallas should trade Schoonmaker. They may not get much for him, but he could be worth a Day 3 selection. Or they take a flyer on another player on a different team to fill another roster need.
The TE2 battle should be fascinating to watch, as if Schoonmaker gets outplayed, Dallas might have a potential trade chip to use at the end of the preseason.