How the Dallas Cowboys turned a position of need into a major strength

Don't look now but the Dallas Cowboys have turned a once position of weakness into a strength heading into the 2024 season.

Cowboys fans have the franchise alike, have not had to worry about the tight end position for as long as most can remember. 

The Cowboys drafted Jason Witten heading into the 2003 season, and when he started taking a majority of the snaps in the 2004 season, the Cowboys found their guy for the next decade-plus.

The Cowboys explored players to pair with Witten, such as Martellus Bennett, but they eventually decided to move on from Witten and would replace him with a combination of Dalton Schultz and Blake Jarwin.

Dalton Schultz would emerge as the guy in Dallas, and for a three year stretch he would put up respectable numbers.

Schultz's play would earn him a new contract with the Houston Texans, and the Cowboys would turn to the draft to find his replacements. 

The Cowboys would select Jake Ferguson out of Wisconsin in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and they would also add another tight end in Peyton Hendershot out of Indiana in the undrafted free agent pool.

The two would have surprisingly similar numbers in their rookie years. Both players would have over 100 yards receiving, but shy of 200 yards. 2 touchdowns, and for both players, 8 of their receptions would go for first downs.

In year two of their careers, Jake Ferguson would establish himself as the guy. Ferguson would have 71 receptions, for 761 yards, and added 5 touchdowns en route to a Pro Bowl season.

Hendershot's usage as a receiver would decline, partially due to suffering from injuries during the season; but he still would see 164 snaps of action in the season.

The Cowboys would add another tight end in Luke Schoonmaker out of Michigan in the 2023 NFL Draft; though he would have very minimal impact in his rookie season, it did solidify their depth.

Despite having three names who very well might be locked in on the roster, the Cowboys would choose to to add yet another name.

In this year's undrafted free-agent pool, the Cowboys would add Brevyn Spann-Ford, out of Minnesota to the room; and Spann-Ford brings something to the room no one else does.

Jake Ferguson stands at 6'4 7/8, Peyton Hendershot is 6'4 1/8, and Luke Schoonmaker stands at 6'5 even. Brevyn Spann-Ford comes in at 6'6 1/2. 

His height can make him a reliable contested-catch weapon, especially when it comes to the red zone and there's reason to believe he can overcome the drop issue that plagued his 2023 season.

The Cowboys now have a short to intermediate threat in Jake Ferguson, a definite intermediate threat in Peyton Hendershot, and someone who can be a jump ball winner in Brevyn Spann-Ford. 

They turned a position which once had questions to a position who has plenty of bodies that fill multiple roles.