The Dallas Cowboys have many positions of need in the upcoming draft and free agency period. One position is not getting the attention it possibly needs.
In every article on the internet and social media, fans see the needs of running back, offensive line, linebacker, edge rusher, and defensive tackle.
One position may or may not be needed, and many people just do not see the need yet because the position is not glamorous or used properly in past coaching schemes.
The position in question is tight end. This position can make or break the passing game and running game.
Do the Cowboys have enough talent at the position, or do they need to take a look and realize they need to make a move?
The Tight End Room Now
The Cowboys currently have five tight ends under contract for next season. They have no impending free agents in this position.
The tight ends under contract are:
- Jake Ferguson
- Luke Schoonmaker
- Brevyn Spann-Ford
- Princeton Fant
- John Stephens Jr.
The obvious names among these tight ends are Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker, but do these players, outside of Ferguson, have the talent to take over games?
The simple answer may be “No,” but several names on the list above have not gotten much of a shot.
Is there enough talent from top to bottom to be considered a strength?
That is another question this front office is going to have to answer.
Tight End Stats Last Season
The tight end group as a whole was not very impressive last season despite playing with a backup quarterback and a non-existent running game.
However, this group of players did not help move the chains or score many touchdowns.
Let’s look at the stats from this group of men:
Jake Ferguson – 14 games played, 59–86 receptions, 494 yards, 8.4 average, zero touchdowns, four fumbles, and averaged 35.3 yards a game
Luke Schoonmaker – 17 games played, 27–36 receptions, 241 yards, 8.9 average, one touchdown, zero fumbles, and averaged 14.2 yards a game.
Brevyn Spann-Ford – 17 games played, 9–14 receptions, 88 yards, 9.8 average, zero touchdowns, zero fumbles, and averaged 5.2 yards a game.
These are the only three tight ends to earn any stats in the passing game for the Cowboys. The remaining tight ends were either special teams players or did not suit up for game day.
One of these three players received grades from pff.com :
Jake Ferguson – 56.6 receiving grade or 35th out of 37 tight ends. He had an overall grade of 54.5, 35th out of 37 tight ends in the NFL.
To break it down further, he was 21st in pass snaps, 12th in targets, 18th in routes, 12th in receptions, 20th in receiving yards, 36th in receiving touchdowns, 13th in drops, 34th in yards per reception, 13th in yards after catch, 31st in passer rating when targeted, and 36th in average depth of target.
These are not the numbers the team needs in a number one tight end, but again, he was receiving passes from a game manager-type backup quarterback in Cooper Rush.
Draft a Tight End or Get the Current Tight Ends More Involved
The current situation in the Dallas Cowboys tight end room can be summed up as below average, but would drafting a tight end be beneficial?
As I look around the league and from the experience of watching what other teams have at tight end, I believe getting the current tight ends more involved could solve the problem.
It seems as though the tight end position is one of the hardest positions to learn at the NFL level because of the multi-faceted needs of the tight end.
Pass blocking, run blocking, and everything associated with receiving are just a few of the position’s nuances.
It would seem the Cowboys have a good tight end in Jake Ferguson. He needs a starting-caliber quarterback who can get him the ball.
Last year was a year that was poised to be great, but injuries ravaged the team.
A year of Dak Prescott and the tight end room together could get this group back near the top of the position’s pecking order in the NFL.
Only time will tell, but drafting a tight end early for this team would be detrimental to the number of needs at other essential positions.