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FRISCO, TX — One thing is for certain, and that's the fact the Dallas Cowboys can take a deep breath and know they made the right decision when they not only drafted tight end Jake Ferguson, but also in tossing him the keys to the TE1 position in only his second year in the league.
It's a position that has been owned by some of the most legendary players in league and/or franchise history, a list headlined by future Hall of Famer Jason Witten, who neither needed a helmet, a healthy spleen or an unfractured jaw to create highlight reels.
If you know, you know.
And the question isn't if Ferguson can fill those shoes, but rather who can complement him going forward as he works his best to try and do so.
Past: There's definitely a rich history at the tight end position in Dallas, even considering a downturn or two between unforgettable players lacing up their cleats for the Cowboys.
It's an organization that was blessed to benefit from legendary talent like Billy Joe Dupree in the Roger Staubach/Danny White era, and many might've forgotten the fact and famous former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka also played the position for the Cowboys — now immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Flash forward and any Cowboys fan worth their salt should know who Jay Novacek is, the literal cowboy turned Cowboy who set the stage for Jason Witten to later elevate the position to where it's never been before.
A resident ironman and the owner of the franchise record for most games played (255), Witten is an eventual shoo-in for the Hall of Fame — once he becomes eligible — also surpassing Michael Irvin for most receptions (1,215) and receiving yards (12,977) as well. Those are records that will likely last a very long time, possibly several generations, from a Cowboys career that spanned 16 seasons.
Witten's stability and consistency helped Dallas weather what was often a bit of a revolving door beside him at TE2, one that conjures memories of Martellus Bennett and James Hanna, as well as the late Gavin Escobar (who became a fan-favorite in his time with the team).
The new slate of tight ends have plenty to live up to, as will any who come in the future, thanks to Witten and the fellow legends who preceded him; but Jake Ferguson got off to a roaring start in 2023 — taking the reins from his immediate predecessor, Dalton Schultz.
Present: It wasn't a fantastic showing for Ferguson in 2024, though. His battle with injuries (knee, concussion) cost him both time and chemistry with Cooper Rush once Dak Prescott was lost to the season, and it was evident on a weekly basis that his usually telepathic connection with Prescott was not present with Rush.
He remains the definitive TE1 going into 2025, however, so make no bones about that; and it'll be a contract year as well, adding to his already high level of motivation to have a bounceback season.
Behind him lies a battle that has gone from an afterthought to, now, anything but.
Future:
Luke Schoonmaker has drawn plenty of ire from Cowboys' fans still upset the team used a second-round pick to acquire him after having seen what Jake Ferguson could do, but the presence of Schoonmaker and the 2024 acquisition of Brevyn Spann-Ford have the latter two locked in one hell of a battle that was fun to watch during the back half of this past season.
That will be one of the key battles to watch going into training camp, and one I'd love to see John Stephens Jr. get back into the mix of but, having now torn both of his ACLs in his first two seasons, it'll be more about staying healthy and then trying to make waves at the position .
Lastly, don't forget about Princeton Fant, seeing as he put a lot of good on film, especially as an in-line blocker and special teamer.
With nary a tight end entering free agency this March, the Cowboys can comfortably avoid using any assets on trying to bolster the group — absent an undeniable option falling into their lap.
