The Dallas Cowboys have had their fair share of success when it comes to undrafted free agents since they joined the NFL in 1960. Drew Pearson, Tony Romo, Mark Tuinei, Hall of Famer Cliff Harris, Dan Bailey, La’el Collins, Everson Walls, and long time special teams hero Bill Bates all have experienced both individual and team success. One could even say the Cowboys are the most successful team of all-time in finding undrafted gems.
Gil Brandt ranks his Top 30 undrafted free agents in NFL history and the Cowboys own seven places. While the odds are surely not in one’s favor, its every undrafted players dream to defy the odds and have the kind of success where their rise to glory will be talked about forever. That walk to glory starts with the first step of making a team, and that’s what Michigan TE Sean McKeon will be looking to do.
McKeon has good height and size, listed at 6-foot-5, 246 pounds. He has appeared in 40 games as a Wolverine with 23 starts. He has experience playing special teams which is always a good quality to have as that may end up being his best option to make the team.
McKeon attended high school at Shepherd Hill Regional High School where Rivals.com ranked him as three-star prospect, the No. 32 tight end nationally and the third-best prospect in the state of Massachusetts. He received similar honors from Scout.com as he was also ranked the 32nd-ranked tight end in the classs and the 22nd-ranked tight end by ESPN.
He arrived in Ann Arbor in 2016, appearing in four games playing behind 2017 5th-round pick Jake Butt. His sophomore year, McKeon appeared in 13 games. starting 10. He registered 31 receptions for 301 yards, while hauling in three touchdowns.
His numbers slipped to only 14 receptions, 122 yards and one touchdown in his junior year, but he also made contributions as a special team player. His senior year he started seven games and caught 13 passes for 235 yards, and two touchdowns.
Film Study: Vs Ohio State (2019)
Scouting Report
McKeon’s opportunities were few and far in between, but when he got the opportunity to catch the ball he did so keeping the rock away from his body well. Most of his work was done as an inline blocker or lined up in the H-back position. He was frequently targeted in the flats and underneath versus zone coverage.
McKeon possess deceptive burst once he gets going, especially on open flat opportunities or tight end throwbacks and screens, something he has had some success executing.
Perhaps due to a lack of opportunities, he shows a urgency getting up field quickly to gain positive yards. As a runner he doesn’t shy away from contact and he runs with his pads low helping him to absorb hits. He has much room to improve as a route runner and often times on downfield routes it seems as if he is running in mud. He is a adequate blocker who can keep his body in between the defender and the ball carrier but the longer he is left on a island the more his lack of strength shows up.
What the Experts Say:
Kyle Crabbs:
PROS: Sean McKeon is a sturdy, well put together athlete who has some 3-down ability as a tight end. McKeon is fairly effective as a blocker, he possesses a solid foundation and brings active feet behind his hips to be a persistent thorn in the side of defenders. I like his work as a blocker most when he’s assigned inside-out leverage. Soft hands, has little issue with catching the football away from his body. Having a well developed frame will help in staying planted on contested situations and not being knocked loose of potential catches. Pairs that frame and soft hands to good concentration and hand-eye coordination, even when being contacted at the catch.
CONS: Is not quite the kind of athlete that you can plan on being a mismatch in the receiving game. McKeon isn’t as appealing in flex situations as he is from an in-line position and doesn’t appear as though he’s going to stress nickel defenders on reps working up the field. As a route runner, McKeon needs to become more effective in dealing with defenders at the top of route stems. Currently becomes befuddled and struggles to produce a false step from defenders to aid in a clean release and avoid collisions in the secondary. As a blocker, there are instances in which he really struggles to engage his outside hand to gain leverage and hook defenders to cross face and gain outside contain vs. leveraged defenders to the boundary.
Roster Outlook
The Cowboys tight end position is an unique one. Blake Jarwin just signed a four-year, $22 million contract with$ 9.25 million guarantees and has flashed an ability to stretch the field and also be very effective after the catch averaging 11.8 yards per catch. With more opportunities Jarwin should be a more productive player.
Behind him is newly acquired Blake Bell who is primarily a blocking tight end and Dalton Schultz who had his opportunities taken from him when Jason Witten unretired and bogarted the lion’s share of snaps for the position .
These guys will compete at camp for that second tight end spot and should be used when the Cowboys go to 12 and 13 personnel. With the selection of CeeDee Lamb, that won’t be nearly as frequently as year’s past, though.
McKeon will be competing directly with Cole Hikutini and fellow undrafted free agent Charlie Taumoepeau for practice and pre-season snaps. Its critical for McKeon to show consistency as a blocker and as a pass catcher but also make plays on special teams to give himself an additional boost at making the team.
On the other hand, McKeon is also competing with the rest of guys at the back end of the roster to make one of the 12 practice squad spots so its important he take advantage of any opportunity he is given.
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