Despite not making the postseason, the Dallas Cowboys have a lot to be proud of, offensively speaking. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer and quarterback Dak Prescott led the team to be one of the best, most explosive offenses in the NFL.
Part of the reason for the team’s offensive success is the depth of their skill positions, including tight end. Jake Ferguson had somewhat of a breakout this season, and Brevyn Spann-Ford continued to improve as the season progressed on both offense and special teams. However, there is one TE who fell out of the graces of the offense almost completely.
Luke Schoonmaker Can No Longer Be Depended on in Dallas
The Luke Schoonmaker project has been an objective failure on multiple fronts. In his three seasons with the Cowboys, Schoonmaker has struggled to find a consistent role in the offense. That took an even bigger hit this season. His production took a major step back following 2024, recording 13 fewer catches, 109 fewer yards, and no touchdowns for the first time.
Considering how high the Cowboys selected Schoonmaker in the 2023 draft, his inability to carve a role within the offense is a concern the team must address this offseason. Coming out of the University of Michigan, fans were high on Schoonmaker’s potential. The Cowboys saw the potential as well, selecting him in the second round in hopes that he would be their tight end of the future. Now, though, the Cowboys need to decide his future with the team as he heads into the final year of his rookie contract.
It would make the most sense for the Cowboys to trade or cut Schoonmaker. Dallas signed Ferguson to an extension last offseason, solidifying his role as the No.1 tight end. It wouldn’t be the first time the Cowboys punted on a member of the 2023 Draft class. First-rounder Mazi Smith was traded to the New York Jets in the Quinnen Williams trade.
The tight end position is a tricky one. It’s a position where “generational talents” typically don’t live up to the expectations that came with them from college. But, it’s also a position where you can get good value in the later rounds of the draft. The position isn’t necessarily a need for the Cowboys heading into the offseason, but if they did want to explore different options moving forward, it’s probably best not to waste precious draft capital on questionable guys.