Cowboys Country

Dallas Cowboys NFL free agency grades: TE breakdown, analysis

A look at where the Cowboys' tight end room stands following the first week of free agency.

Ali Jawad

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson runs after a catch during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium.
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson runs after a catch during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium. / Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images
In this story:

Week Two of free agency is underway, and several players are still looking for new homes in 2025.

Continuing our position-by-position analysis, we focus next on tight end, which has seen the least activity for the Dallas Cowboys since free agency began last week.

MORE: Dallas Cowboys NFL free agency grades: OL breakdown, analysis

With five players currently on the depth chart it seems less likely than not that Dallas will add another name in the open market but one can never rule out the options that the NFL Draft will present.

For now here is a look at where things stand in the tight end room.

TE Depth Chart

Luke Schoonmaker
Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker reacts after wide receiver Jalen Tolbert catches a touchdown pass in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Jake Ferguson
Luke Schoonmaker
Brevyn Spann-Ford
Princeton Fant
John Stephens Jr.

Dallas had this group all throughout last season and barring any additions in free agency and April's draft likely goes into the season with this group again.

Jake Ferguson enters a contract year in 2025. The veteran tight end enjoyed a Pro Bowl campaign in 2023, recording 71 receptions for 761 yards and five touchdowns. Last season, he saw a decline in production, finishing with 59 receptions for 494 yards, and never once found the end zone. Now heading into year four, Dallas will hope to see its former 2022 fourth-round pick replicate his 2023 form.

MORE: Dallas Cowboys NFL free agency grades: Running back breakdown, analysis

Ferguson missed three games in 2024, leading to backup Luke Schoonmaker stepping into the starting role against the Saints, Giants, and Commanders while also filling in midway through a Week 11 contest against the Houston Texans when Ferguson was lost to a concussion.

In those four games, Schoonmaker finished with a promising 20 receptions off 26 targets for 187 yards and one touchdown.

Now heading into his third season, the Cowboys will examine whether the former Michigan product can continue to develop into a reliable backup option.

MORE: Dallas Cowboys NFL free agency grades: QB breakdown, analysis

Behind the top two options are Brevyn Spann-Ford, who appeared in all 17 games last season and finished with nine receptions for 88 yards and played 114 snaps on special teams; Princeton Fant, who played in eight games and played just 14 snaps on offense and 148 on special teams; and John Stephens Jr., who has suffered back-to-back ACL tears over his first two seasons.

Grade: C+

Jake Ferguson
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson runs after a catch against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

As noted before, the Cowboys have not made any moves at the position and is the only unit that has not received any attention since free agency opened up.

Ferguson continues to provide Dallas with a quality starter but will hope to see him bounce back after an underwhelming 2024 season. The veteran tight ends future widely depends on his production in 2025.

MORE: NFL Insider says former Cowboys $100 million wide receiver ‘is done’

Schoonmaker may have done just enough when given the opportunity to show the team he could be a reliable option when he needed to step up but as a former second-round pick will need to take a big step forward in his third season.

Spann-Ford, Fant, and Stephens Jr. will likely enter training camp competing for the team's final 53.

— Enjoy free coverage of the Cowboys from Dallas Cowboys on SI â€”

Dallas Cowboys NFL free agency Week 1 recap, remaining needs

Dallas Cowboys NFL free agency grades: QB breakdown, analysis

Parris Campbell signing highlights Cowboys' unchanged FA approach

Post-Combine 3-Round NFL mock draft: Cowboys snag dynamic WR, bruising RB

Dante Fowler shares message with Cowboys fans after free agency reunion

Meet Sophy Laufer: Star of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Netflix docuseries

Published
Ali Jawad
ALI JAWAD

Home/News