This past Thursday, most Dallas Cowboys fans were holding their drinks clinched tight, waiting for the team to overtake and close out the Seattle Seahawks finally.
While the defense made a couple of crucial stops late in the 4th quarter, everyone with a pulse knew the offense stepped up to get Dallas to a respectable 9-3 record.
Praise can be evenly distributed in a few different directions, but some players should get a bigger slice of the praise pie.
Quarterback Dak Prescott is a great starting point as he continues to give people reasons to keep him in the MVP conversation. CeeDee Lamb strengthened his case for the best receiver in the league, but admittedly, I worry, knowing Tyreek Hill is waiting in the wings.
The third name that continues to get traction is the 2nd year tight end from Wisconsin.
Jake Ferguson has become a steady cog in this offense and is ready to surpass those who share the position in his draft class.
Jake Ferguson definitely looks like a draft steal despite his 4th round landing spot
I don't envy scouts and members of the player personnel departments in the NFL.
Despite being a part of the best league in the world, situations and articles like this make it difficult.
Re-drafts and handing out grades for draft picks two years post-selection seems unfair but someone has to take that position.
Dallas needed more offensive line help, pass rushers got over-drafted and scooped up quickly, and Michael Gallup's injury forced the team's hand.
Dallas took Tyler Smith, Sam Williams, and Jalen Tolbert with their first three cracks.
In 2022, we made need-based selections.
Take away the abovementioned reasons; the tight end position regained the lead from a priority standpoint. Dallas knew they would lose Dalton Schultz, who was ready to carry the franchise tag around his neck for a season.
In Jake's rookie season, fans could see glimpses of what he could be. The run-after-catch ability may have been missed in draft scouting reports.
Pro Football Focus said he came away with 6.4 yards after the catch. That's pretty darn good for a backup.
Not to mention, he had 0 drops on his lowly 22 targets.
The added cherry is the fact that he can stretch the field to keep safeties and linebackers honest.
However, the potential of what could have been there, at least for the fans. Dallas used a valuable 2nd round pick on Luke Schoonmaker in 2023, which may pay dividends.
But it'll be in the backup capacity for the time being.
Fast forward to 2023, is Ferguson outplaying his draft stock and peers?
Yes, and yes.
Seven tight ends (Tre McBride, Jelani Woods, Greg Dulcich, Jeremy Ruckert, Cade Otton, Daniel Bellinger, and Charlie Kolar) got a call before Fergie.
Some relocated to places that weren't conducive to a successful NFL career, while others found that patience is a virtue.
Ferguson is definitely on that end of things.
Woods and Dulcich have landed on the injured reserve this season, so I'll refrain from keeping them on this list.
Players like Ruckert and Kolar haven't been substantial passing threats, so I'll dismiss them from jury duty, especially with 16 career receptions between them.
Albeit a brief career, Ferguson has hauled 65 receptions, 672 yards, and seven touchdowns in 28 games. He just finished tattooing his name in the memory banks of the Seahawk's uber-athletic defense.
Jake Ferguson on this confrontation with Jamal Adams after a big YAC play:
“I was just letting him know I got the first down. Talk all you want. 🤷🏻♂️”
He'd later gab the go-ahead touchdown over … *checks notes*… Jamal Adams.
And then the staredown.
Menace. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/IjlKacHTJ5
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) December 1, 2023
McBride (77 receptions, 786 yards, and two touchdowns) and Otton (80 receptions, 739 yards, and five touchdowns) stand alone as the only two taken ahead of Jake that can make a case.
First, let's take Cade Otton.
He's not a bad player, and I wouldn't have kicked and screamed if Dallas had selected him. However, I have yet to see any evidence of the alpha traits that I see from Ferguson.
He's participated in 3 games in two full seasons where he eclipsed 50 yards receiving in a game. Jake Ferguson has had 3 in just this season alone.
And then there was Tre
Tre McBride, on the other hand, is different. He may be the only tight end in the 2022 class that can compete with Ferguson on untapped potential.
They're tough, athletic, and don't mind running routes in areas where opponents are trying to knock their heads off.
The biggest difference is one is making an impact for a potential playoff team under the bright lights.
The other is doing for a lottery team.
It's no one's fault but I'll take the guy who does it when the pressure is the greatest.
That's Ferguson.
