The Dallas Cowboys have been blessed with many legendary players throughout their storied history, and the tight end position has at least a couple of the greatest players to put on a uniform.
It makes it easy to name some of the best players at any given position, and for a sports nut like me, even the lesser-known names are some that I can rattle off without a second thought.
Guys most people might have forgotten, like Martellus Bennett, Anthony Fasano, or David LeFleur.
Then there’s the more recognizable names like Dalton Schultz and Jake Ferguson for those fans new to the game or who just don’t care to save too much memory in their brains for football.
This article is a continuation of a series where I take positions where the Cowboys could use some help, and I list my personal favorite players in those positions throughout my years of fandom.
I have already listed running backs and wide receivers, and tight end is next on the list.
Remember, these are my personal favorite players to play the position, not an all-time ranking. We would love to hear who your favorite players are in the comments.
Not Urgent, But Needs Attention
I work in a manufacturing shop, so the message in the heading is something that I see all the time when submitting a maintenance request for something that needs to be fixed.
There is an option for “total work stoppage”, which is basically a “hey, this thing is broken, and I can’t do anything until you fix it” kind of thing.
The tight end position for the Cowboys is the former: not urgent, but needs attention. Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker were supposed to be a formidable tandem, but their limited success appears to be in spite of each other.
Ferguson had a Pro Bowl season in 2023, catching 71 passes for 761 yards and five touchdowns. He also added three more touchdown receptions in the playoff loss to Green Bay.
His rise to one of the best tight ends in the league prompted us to put the spotlight on Schoonmaker. If he could make the same leap, the Cowboys would have a lethal tight end tandem.
Schoonmaker got better, but Ferguson regressed after injuring his knee in week 1 at the Cleveland Browns. Ferguson is now in a contract year, and it may be his last in a Cowboys uniform.
Here are three of my favorite tight ends to wear a Cowboys uniform.
The Ultimate Team Captain
When you think of the Dallas Cowboys tight end position, Jason Witten is probably the first name that pops into your head.
It’s the same for me, and we have good reason for doing so. His name is synonymous with consistency, reliability, and professionalism. Witten played 16 seasons for the Cowboys, and in that time, established himself as one of the best tight ends of all time.
His ability to find the open space in the zone and serve as a security blanket for both Tony Romo and Dak Prescott made him a fan favorite.
For Cowboys fans, Witten wasn’t just a player. He was a symbol of what it meant to be a Dallas Cowboy.
A True Cowboy
Another of my favorite all-time Cowboys tight ends is none other than Jay Novacek.
Novacek last suited up for the Cowboys in 1995, so younger fans might not know who I am talking about. He was basically for Troy Aikman what Jason Witten was for Romo and Prescott: a security blanket.
The 1990s Cowboys had The Triplets on offense: Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin. They also had Alvin Harper, but Novacek is easily forgotten, even though he might have been the most important piece.
Novacek is one of my favorites because he was a true Cowboy. Inside The Star’s Managing Editor, Bryson Treece, detailed former Cowboys players and their affinity with horses in his latest article.
A true cowboy like Novacek is included in that. Aside from his play on the field, his life off of the field brought an authentic cowboy aura.
Untapped Potential
Gavin Escobar’s time in Dallas was short, but his potential was undeniable. Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2013 NFL Draft, he arrived with high expectations.
He was a big, athletic tight end whose skills were perfectly suited as a redzone threat on an offense that already featured Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, and DeMarco Murray.
However, the team’s strengths proved to be Escobar’s weakness. He could not get meaningful targets behind Bryant, Witten, Murray, Cole Beasley, Miles Austin, and Terrance Williams.
In his four years in Dallas, Escobar compiled just 30 receptions for 330 yards and eight touchdowns.
Sadly, Escobar passed away on September 29, 2022 in a rock-climbing accident. His time as a volunteer firefighter after his playing career ended made him a revered member of his community.
His impact on the field wasn’t as great as his impact off of the field, and that’s exactly why he is one of my all-time favorite tight ends.