A case can be made no incumbent Dallas player faces a more difficult situation than third-year tight end Peyton Hendershot. The undrafted free agent out of Indiana wowed onlookers as a rookie, not only winning a roster spot but contributing 103 yards and two touchdowns over the course of 298 snaps in 2022.
Hendershot’s second season looked like a step back in his young career. After the Cowboys added TE Luke Schoonmaker in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft, Hendershot’s pathway to a more prominent role appeared blocked. Hendershot was only able to post four receptions for 38 yards in Year 2. Now in Year 3, if Hendershot wants to hold off the competition at TE, he’s going to need a fast start to camp where he shows consistency as a pass catcher and improvement as a blocker.
With so many intriguing talents in the TE room in 2024, the status quo just won’t cut it.
His ability to create yards after the catch made him a valuable weapon in screen and red zone situations for the Cowboys. Not much of a blocker, Hendershot thrived flexed out in more of a “big slot” role as a rookie. It paired perfectly with fellow rookie Jake Ferguson, who was well-versed in inline play and the various blocking assignments that accompany such a role.
Hia 2023 was a campaign highlighted by two drops on just seven targets and some rather ineffective contributions in the blocking game.
Hendershot’s objective in his third season is not only to reclaim the magic from his rookie season, but to show his game has matured enough to hold off some high potential competition who are challenging for roster spots.
Had it not been for a preseason ACL tear, John Stephens, an undrafted free agent in 2023, would have likely beaten Hendershot out last year. Stephens routinely flashed in training camp, showing elite balls skills and a natural understanding of routes and how they play off certain coverages. He wasn’t any more polished than Hendershot in the blocking game but his sky-high potential as a pass catcher almost made it irrelevant. Since Hendershot likely can’t outdo Stephens as a pass catcher, his best course of action is to show he’s more versatile as a blocker.
Speaking of blocking, the Cowboys signed arguably the best blocking TE in the 2024 draft class when they added Brevyn Spann-Ford to the mix following the draft. The 24-year-old’s enormous 6-foot-7, 270-pound frame makes him a natural fit for inline roles, giving him the inside track on jumbo packages and other short yardage situations common for reserve tight ends.
Hendershot’s inconsistent play and one dimensionality makes him a hard sell for this Cowboys roster. Dallas is already tied to Schoonmaker as a second-round pick and can’t afford to invest another valuable roster spot on another inconsistent TE prospect.
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