Cowboys’ backup TE group fell short in 2023

2024 Roster Review: Backup Tight Ends – Part 8 of 17. Click here to view all articles in this series.

Tight end Jake Ferguson was targeted 102 times in the 2023 season. The other three tight ends on the Cowboys’ roster were thrown at just 24 times all year.

Among Dallas’ tight ends, Ferguson drew 81 percent of the targets last season.

By comparison, in 2022, Dalton Schultz had 89 targets (68.5% of total tight end targets) while the other three tight ends had a combined 41 targets (31.5%).

That’s a number that must change in 2024. Especially with the Cowboys having spent a second round pick in 2023 on Luke Schoonmaker.

In short, among the trio of Schoonmaker, Peyton Hendershot, and Sean McKeon – or yet another drafted rookie – someone needs to step up this fall.

Schoonmaker Flirting With Bust Label

Schoonmaker was hampered in his rookie season with a foot injury that impacted his mini-camp and training camp days in 2023.

That Dallas was already aware of Schoonmaker’s issue – combined with his age of 25 – is still concerning.

It seems the Cowboys panicked when an early run on tight ends started in last year’s draft. Given Schoonmaker’s injury – and a need on the offensive line – they should have waited.

Cowboys TE Luke Schoonmaker is tackled just short of the goal line by Eagles S Reed Blankenship in a game on 11/5/2023

Dallas could have taken O’Cyrus Torrence, a guard from Florida, in the second round. Schoonmaker likely gets taken by the Jaguars – who took TE Brenton Strange a few picks later.

Or he might have been taken by the Packers in the third round. Green Bay selected Tucker Kraft, a TE from South Dakota State in the third.

Kraft likely would have been there for the Cowboys in the third round if they hadn’t taken Schoonmaker a round earlier.

While Schoonmaker never started a game in 2023, Kraft started eight games. He finished with 31 catches for 355 yards and two touchdowns.

He also caught two passes for 15 yards against Dallas in the playoffs.

Schoonmaker finished the 2023 campaign with seven catches on 15 targets for 65 yards and two touchdowns. He added a seven-yard catch in the playoff loss to the Packers.

His biggest highlight was the touchdown he didn’t score against the Eagles in a Week 9 loss.

He failed to run a deep enough route and was tackled inches short of the endzone on a fourth down play.

In 2024, Schoonmaker needs to find a way to make more of an impact as a receiver or he’s going to get saddled with the “Draft Bust” label.

Hendershot’s Last Stand?

Hendershot is entering the final year of his three-year rookie contract. He’ll be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

Hendershot will start the year third on the depth chart at tight end.

He’ll also be coming off of ankle surgery during the off season.

In his rookie season he started in two games and played in all 17 games on the schedule. He finished with 11 catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns.

He even added a one-yard touchdown run that year playing behind Schultz and Ferguson.

Last year, he was hobbled by injuries and only played in eight games. He caught four of the seven passes thrown his way for just 38 yards and did not find the end zone in 2023.

Barring a free agent signing – or another pick spent on a tight end in the draft in April – Hendershot should have a solid grip on TE3 this year in Dallas.

Is McKeon A McGoin’?

McKeon is an unrestricted free agent this year.

If Dallas doesn’t resign him – and its not like his numbers would command a high salary – it would indicate a likely move in free agency or the draft.

In four seasons with the Cowboys he has just three starts in 45 games played. He has caught six passes for 38 yards and one touchdown for his career.

His lone touchdown came in a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Raiders in 2021.

The majority of his snap counts have come on special teams as opposed to being on offense.

It will be interesting to see if Dallas has seen enough from McKeon to bring him back for one more year. Or are they ready to move on and get someone else, especially with the cloud of doubt hanging over Schoonmaker.