Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson having the type of year he had as TE1 likely went above and beyond expectations at The Star. ... and the second-round pick used on Luke Schoonmaker proves that double-edged point.
With Dak Prescott's security blanket in Dalton Schultz moving to the Houston Texans via free agency, a spot opened up in coach Mike McCarthy's offense.
Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot battled it out for the starting role, with "Ferg" winning it during training camp. As such, his role in the offense was solidified.
But being in just his second NFL season, to have a breakout year as Prescott's go-to guy, has led NFL.com to pick Ferguson as Dallas' unsung hero/surprise contributor for the season.
"Is it possible to be overlooked when you play with a star on your helmet? Anyone with a glimmer in Dallas is probably making a Pro Bowl or All-Pro roster," NFL.com wrote. "So let's use this opportunity to highlight Ferguson's play. The second-year tight end exploded for 71 catches and 761 yards with five TDs, ranking in the top 10 in each category among tight ends. Ferguson finished second among Cowboys pass catchers in targets (102), catches and yards while ranking fifth among tight ends in receiving yards over expected (113), per Next Gen Stats. Ferguson combined the ability to find open gaps in the defense with stellar run-after-catch performance (430 YAC, sixth-most among TEs). He proved he's a keeper."
Ferguson is a keeper alright.
The second-year tight end finished the season for yards (761), receptions (71), and targets (101), while also finishing third for touchdowns (5) among Cowboys players.
That will do.
Also, he had more yards than Schultz (635) which further validates the decision to move on from Dalton. He also had ten games where Prescott targeted him seven or more times as the connection and trust between the two was building with each passing week.
Ferguson's yards-after-the-catch was his biggest weapon as often he would turn a seven-yard reception into a 20-yard gain. His RAC ability was evident on seam routes where so often he and Prescott would connect routinely this season.
In the Cowboys playoff loss to the Packers, Ferguson hauled in 10 catches for 93 yards and three touchdowns as he was the only shining light on offense - he saved his best game for the biggest occasion.
Heading into his third year, the sky is the limit for Ferguson as his second-year leap made him a force in the Cowboys' passing game.
But here is that double-edged point: Dallas didn't know what it had in Ferguson. So it used a second-round pick on Luke Schoonmaker - a "reach,'' many said. Indeed, the Cowboys were uber-focused on drafting a tight end high. ...
In part because they didn't know Ferguson would do what he did.
So in a way, Dallas underrated Ferguson, which caused Dallas to overrate Schoonmaker?
What will Ferguson look like with another preseason as TE1 under his belt? Nobody is clamoring for Dallas to draft a tight end again, that is for sure.
What will Schoonmaker look like with more time? It can be argued that good offenses need two good tight ends. Cowboys Nation has a right to clamor for that to happen.
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