Tag: Luke Schoonmaker

Cowboys shouldn’t let recent draft busts cloud eval of Michigan prospects

Two of the best DTs in the 2025 NFL draft class come from Michigan so the Cowboys must put bias aside. | From @ReidDHanson

Michigan draft prospects haven’t exactly panned out for the Cowboys in recent years. Two draft cycles ago the Cowboys double-dipped from the Ann Arbor powerhouse, using their first two draft picks on Michigan players.

In 2023’s first round, the Cowboys selected defensive tackle Mazi Smith. The 337-pound interior lineman didn’t have many skins on the wall, but he had a physical skillset that couldn’t be matched. One round later Dallas went back to Michigan to snag a tight end. Unconvinced Jake Ferguson was the long-term answer, the Cowboys pounced on the experienced Luke Schoonmaker at No. 58.

Schoonmaker didn’t have a very inspiring highlight reel playing in Michigan’s run-heavy offense, but he was an accomplished run blocker and represented one of the safer picks in the Cowboys’ 2023 draft class.

Neither has worked out for Dallas.

Smith’s rookie season delivered the lowest defensive snap count from a first rounder in over a decade. His sophomore season has been decidedly worse with Smith grading 124th of 124 interior linemen in 2024.

Schoonmaker hasn’t been much better.

The second-year tight end hasn’t just been playing behind Ferguson, but he’s working behind rookie undrafted free agent Brevyn Spann-Ford as well. The 26-year-old hasn’t seen a target in four weeks and has been hit or miss in many of his blocking assignments.

Both players have fallen considerably short of expectations, and both are on the path to becoming certified busts.

Dallas, an organization known for their draft prowess, hasn’t had a first-round pick struggle like Smith since they selected Taco Charlton in 2017. Charlton, a defensive end from (you guessed it) Michigan, flamed out in spectacular fashion. He only lasted two seasons in Dallas and hasn’t played a down of football since the 2022 season.

It’s not lost on the Cowboys fanbase some of the organization’s biggest draft mistakes have come from the University of Michigan. So, it’s only natural many of those fans balk at the idea of selecting another Michigan player in the 2025 NFL draft. While this is an understandable posture, it’s a mistake to give such bias legs to stand on.

Based on the Cowboys’ current trajectory, Dallas will be picking in the top 10 of the draft next April. Picking inside the top 10 will position them well for blue chip talent. A player the Cowboys could be looking at when they go on the clock in the first round might just be another player from the University of Michigan.

Mason Graham, 6-foot-3, 320-pounds, is widely regarded as the top defensive lineman in the draft class. The well-rounded DT is a model prospect who comes with a Pro Bowl profile. He’s versatile and he’s experienced. He doesn’t come with the same degree of projection as Smith and Charlton, and as an accomplished pressure player, he offers value that goes beyond the typical run-stuffing often associated with the DT position.

Right behind Graham on the prospect list is fellow Michigan DT Kenneth Grant. Grant, 6-foot-3, 339-pounds, is a physical marvel at the DT position. Like Smith before him, Grant makes Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List. He’s stout enough to play nose tackle but explosive enough to penetrate as a pass rusher. Grant has conditioning concerns as a man his size often does, but he should not be passed over simply because there are similarities between him and Smith. He’s a different player.

The Cowboys weakest position on the field is generally believed to be their interior defensive line. Given development time and bust potential associated with the DT position in Dallas, it’s recommended the Cowboys use free agency to bring in a top flight DT this spring. But if the Cowboys don’t want to spend big on a veteran, Michigan has a couple intriguing talents who need to be considered. They shouldn’t be disregarded simply because of the school they come from.

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Cowboys’ offensive identity part dependent on Schoonmaker and Tolbert

The Cowboys have an abnormal competition going between two different positions groups, and it should pay dividends. | From @ReidDHanson

The Cowboys played out of 11 personnel (three receiver sets) 62.09% of the time in 2023. They played out of 12 personnel (standard two tight end sets) 13.90%. They were extremely proficient in both, posting an EPA/play that ranked No. 3 and No. 6 respectively, but 11 personnel was clearly their bread and butter.

Where they go in 2024 is a matter of debate. It’s pretty clear 11 personnel will once again rule the offense, but will it dominate to the degree it did last season?

For the first time since 2018 the Cowboys will be without Michael Gallup. Gallup, essentially Dallas’ WR3, played a key role in their 11 personnel sets. He was a player defenses respected and someone who could handle the physical rigors of the X role on the outside.

Jalen Tolbert is the front runner to replace Gallup in Dallas’ top three. He’s as ascending player with all the tangible skills to be a starter and teammates have spoken glowingly of his progress. But with just 22 receptions and 268 yards to his name, Tolbert is far from a sure thing so the Cowboys’ ability to execute in 11 personnel efficiently in 2024 has to be somewhat in question.

12 personnel, Dallas’ second most frequent personnel package, stands to gain if Tolbert struggles. Luke Schoonmaker, the expected TE2, plays a key role in shifting the balance. If he can live up to his billing as a second-round draft pick, he could carve out a bigger role for those two TE packages.

In many ways it’s a battle between two players who play completely different positions. It’s Tolbert at WR and Schoonmaker at TE who may ultimately dictate the frequency of their usage.

In today’s NFL, 11 personnel is king and that’s not about to change in Dallas regardless of how Tolbert performs. That doesn’t mean 11 personnel is automatically going to get over 60 percent of the snaps. Plenty of high-powered passing attacks operate out of 12 packages because TEs have the ability to present significant mismatches.

Schoonmaker was drafted as a ready-made run blocker with downfield potential. He didn’t show much as a rookie but his scouting report stays the same. He’s more than capable of being a plus-blocker in the NFL and he has the athletic traits to be a weapon in the passing game as well. He could help fill the hole left by Gallup almost as much as Tolbert. To do so he’s going to have to get over his injury issues. A recent hamstring injury threatens to keep him out until training camp. He’ll have to hit the ground running in order to convince Mike McCarthy the offense needs more 12 personnel in 2024.

Tolbert has a somewhat similar challenge but also likely the inside track. Even if his numbers don’t reflect it, he was vastly improved in 2023. If he can show he’s capable of sliding into Gallup’s role, 11 personnel will probably be just as prevalent in 2024. That’s especially true if he can take snaps at the X spot.

This isn’t a traditional training camp battle since it’s an indirect competition, but it will be fascinating to watch nonetheless and could dictate the Cowboys’ offensive identity in 2024.

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For Cowboys, Schoonmaker, it’s not panic time… yet

Luke Schoonmaker and the Cowboys don’t have to worry until training camp kicks off, says @ReidDHanson.

Luke Schoonmaker is hurt. Again. The Dallas Cowboys second-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft has seen far too much of the training room since joining the NFL. Lingering injuries stunted his growth as a rookie, setting him behind pace and limiting him to 368 offensive snaps in 2023. And now he has a hamstring injury that will keep him out of OTAs.

The concern today is more of the same, injuries, may be setting him for more of the same, underwhelming performance, in 2024. For being called the safest pick of their 2023 draft class, Schoonmaker has sure fallen short of expectations thus far.

Last year’s class was heralded to be rich in tight end prospects. It was the perfect draft for a TE-needy team like Dallas who hoped to add one early. As luck would have it, a run on the TE position went down early in the second round and the Cowboys were faced with a dilemma: do they roll the dice and hope a player of proper value falls to them later, or do they toe the line of over-drafting and take a player while options were available?

As most fans know, Dallas went with Option B and drafted Schoonmaker, the top TE from Michigan, with their second-round pick. He projected as Day 3 prospect by many but came with a degree of stability as a prospect.

Schoonmaker didn’t hail from a flashy upstart program, nor did he come from proven passing powerhouse. He came from a run-heavy Big Ten team. He was a blocker first and foremost and beyond that he was generally unglamorous.

Yet he tested well so the potential was there to become a solid pass-catcher down the road. But Schoonmaker was an older prospect, turning 25 in his rookie season, and therefore not someone drafted for his high ceiling, rather his high floor.

With his rookie season a bust, Schoonmaker looked to 2024 to show he was worth a second-round pick. It’s a situation that just suffered a setback with recent news a hamstring injury will be limiting him in OTAs. This on the heels of shoulder surgery soon after the offseason began.

For as upsetting as the news is, it’s better now than later. Schoonmaker is a smart player. He’s a focused player. He’s a player who just needs to execute. And that execution has to come in live action and the closest thing to live action before the regular season is training camp.

As long as Schoonmaker is good to go for Oxnard, CA, he’s in position to realize his potential as a top draft pick. The Cowboys are likely handling the situation cautiously because they, as much as anyone, want their TE2 ready to compete in training camp.

At the moment there’s nothing to worry about. As long as Schoonmaker is in position to compete when it matters, things should be fine. It’s only if he can’t make it back when people should start to worry. It’s then the TE2 role can really fall into question, and it’s then his future should fall into doubt.

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Cowboys Luke Schoonmaker sidelined from OTAs with another injury

The team’s 2023 second rounder cannot seem to shake the injury bug early in his career. | From @ArmyChiefW3

Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker faced a challenging and disappointing rookie season and his second year is not starting well for him either. After being drafted by the club, the Michigan product missed time during 2023 training camp due to a foot injury.

After already undergoing shoulder surgery after the end of the season, now Schoonmaker is missing more valuable time now thanks to a hamstring injury.

Schoonmaker is expected to be ready for the start of this year’s training camp in July. He entered his rookie year with high hopes following a promising college career yet struggled to find his footing in Dallas, literally. The tear hindered his ability to develop chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott.

When he did make it onto the field, Schoonmaker showed flashes of his talent but often failed to make significant contributions to the Cowboys’ offense.

Schoonmaker’s blocking, an area where he was expected to excel, was deemed subpar and seemed to negatively impacted the team’s rushing game.

By the end of the season, he had recorded only eight catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns, a stark contrast to the expectations set for a second-round pick.

This disappointing season not only raised questions about Schoonmaker’s future with the team but also highlighted the challenges of transitioning from college to the NFL. Moving forward, it will be crucial for Schoonmaker to address his physical and mental hurdles, refocus on improving his game, and work towards becoming the reliable player the Cowboys envisioned when they brought him on board.

Shoulder surgeries continue disappointing career starts of Cowboys’ Smith, Schoonmaker

Dallas revealed their two top draft picks from 2023 are going to be out for the duration of the offseason calendar. | From @ArmyChiefW3

This past season was essentially a wash for the Cowboys’ 2023 draft class. None of the first three players selected for the club were able to make a significant impact last year, a rare occasion for a club with a reputation for knocking drafts out the park. Second-year impact is now the focus, but that hasn’t gotten off to a great start, either.

Talking at the NFL’s spring league meetings, Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy revealed that 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith underwent shoulder surgery this offseason. The injury news didn’t stop there as he revealed second-round tight end Luke Schoonmaker also had shoulder surgery. The Michigan product injured himself during training and underwent the procedure last week.

Smith underwent the surgery shortly after the season concluded and is He’s expected to miss anywhere between four-to-six months, making him unavailable to participate in upcoming OTAs and mini camps.

Dallas used the 26th overall pick on the massive defensive tackle from Michigan in hopes of shoring up their run defense. His rookie season did not go as planned and his play was overshadowed by weight loss questions. Something McCarthy also addressed on the second day of the league gatherings.

Smith played in all 17 games his rookie season but only lined up for 28% of the overall snaps. With the Cowboys reluctant to bring in any outside free agents, expecting Smith to play a significant role in year two has social media in an uproar. This is especially true after veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins chose to sign with Seattle over Dallas.

Schoonmaker’s timeline is expected to be similar to that of Smith. The backup tight end caught eight passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season.

Both players will miss the majority of team activities but should be ready for training camp tentatively scheduled for late July.

Dallas lost third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown for the season in the final preseason game last year with a torn left ACL. Before the injury, the linebacker turned heads during training camp which could have given this class a different feel.

Why the Cowboys should remain optimistic for TE Luke Schoonmaker’s future

Luke Schoonmaker had a poor rookie campaign, but the Cowboys should remain optimistic about what the young TE can still offer this offense. | From @ReidDHanson

Luke Schoonmaker’s rookie season didn’t go as expected in Dallas. As the No. 58 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, the Cowboys had high hopes for the former Michigan TE. He was supposed to make up for the loss of free agent departure, Dalton Schultz. He was supposed to be the TE1 by season’s end.

And with 37 collegiate games under his belt and entering the NFL at nearly 25-years-old, he was supposed to be a plug-and-play selection. Supposed to. Things didn’t turn out that way, but there’s plenty to remain hopeful about as Schoonmaker enters his second offseason.

Schoonmaker’s start with Dallas got off to a slow start when a case of plantar fasciitis kept him out of the action early in the offseason. Second-year TE Jake Ferguson held onto the TE1 spot with a firm grip but behind him the competition was wide open. After easing into training camp, the rookie started to rise up the depth chart.

Sean McKeon was largely capped in his potential and second-year player Peyton Hendershot took what appeared to be a step back. TE2 became Schoonmaker’s, almost by default.

But the rookie would go on to play just 368 offensive snaps in 2023. He caught eight balls for a total of 65 yards, but worse than that, it was the miscues that largely defined his rookie season.

With three official drops on his resume, Schoonmaker’s drop percentage sat at 20%. His shallow goal-line route in the Cowboys’ first matchup against the Eagles likely cost Dallas the game. And his blocking, perceived to be his bread and butter, wasn’t quite as polished as it was made out to be in the draft process.

It was a season to forget for the rookie TE and a pick many Cowboys fans wish they had back. Fan favorites like O’ Cyrus Torrence, Tank Dell and DeVon Achane were all on the board at the time of the pick, and all would have offered the offense far more in return.

But the story is not yet written on Schoonmaker and there’s reason to believe good days await the former second round pick.

One big factor to consider is the difficulty of the position. TE is part WR and part OL. It has all the blocking nuances of one and all the pass catching nuances of the other. It’s a notoriously difficult position in which to assimilate and its learning curve is unique to everyone – even seemingly polished players like Schoonmaker.

For every Ferguson and Witten who hit the ground running, there are dozens of prospects who struggle in the early days. Schultz, Schoonmaker’s predecessor in Dallas, only took 300 offensive snaps as a rookie. Hailing from Stanford, aka “Tight End U,” Schultz was also someone who the Cowboys thought would develop quickly. Yet like many who came before him, Schultz also took some extra time in his development. Schultz only had 13 receptions in his first two seasons in the NFL and didn’t truly breakout until his third season.

The impact of the plantar fascia tear clearly factors into Schoonmaker’s poor rookie season. He was robbed of offseason work, including valuable time in the weight room and practicing routes. A full offseason of both things should get him on a much better path in Year 2.

Finally, there’s the pressure. Ferguson established himself as a fan favorite and clear TE1 in the NFL. Playing in his first Pro Bowl this winter, Ferguson has a bright future with the Cowboys. Because of that, Schoonmaker doesn’t have the pressure of stepping up into the TE1 role in 2024. With Ferguson under contract for the next two seasons, Schoonmaker won’t face that kind of pressure until 2026 at the earliest. All Schoonmaker has to do is be the best TE2 he can be, and things will sort themselves out.

The Cowboys struggled mightily in 12 personnel last season and a big reason why is because Schoonmaker wasn’t a viable threat downfield. The Cowboys adjusted by playing their 11 personnel more often, and their 12 personnel far below league average. They would love to change that in 2024.

With better play from Schoonmaker, the Cowboys can shift back to more two-TE personnel groups. Their offense will then be less predictable and more in tune with league trends. So, while the TE1 position may not be open for Schoonmaker any time soon, a much bigger TE2 role could be instore for the second year TE and that could have a significant impact on the Cowboys offense in 2024 and beyond.

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Follow the Money: Breakdown of Cowboys TE salaries, cap hits

A breakdown of the cap spending at the tight end position and how Dallas has set themselves up to keep costs low with solid production. | From @ArmyChiefW3

Imagine a scenario where a young, bonafide starter who just made his first Pro Bowl leads a position group of other young talented players, all threats to make the team. Now imagine the entire collection doesn’t take up much salary cap space.

The tight end room in Dallas has a long list of potential contributors and might be the closest to fitting this description. The Cowboys have done the ground work, laying the platform for this to come to fruition. Now the players not named Jake Ferguson have to come through on the promise.

When churning the bottom of the roster, a player’s salary often contributes to his fate but the money aspect probably won’t be coming into play for these guys. With very little capital spent, this is where Dallas has managed to save a few dollars without sacrificing much.

12 personnel an offensive trend Cowboys couldn’t exploit in 2023

Passing out of 12 personnel groups has been highly productive in the NFL yet the Cowboys’ issues at TE have caused them to struggle in this area. | From @ReidDHanson

The NFL is a game of mismatches. Top offensive minds are constantly searching for ways to gain advantages by utilizing certain personnel groups. It’s something the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree has taken to new heights and something that’s consistently burned the Cowboys defense in recent matchups.

Adding an extra TE to the field often forces defenses to match personnel; achieved by swapping a DB for an extra LB on most occasions. This adjustment adds to the overall size of the defense but can come at the cost of speed and coverage ability. This situation is exploitable if the TEs brought in to facilitate the running game are also legitimate pass threats.

12 personnel often makes it’s biggest impact in the passing game. Even though the majority of the plays that take place with two TEs on the field are runs, it’s usually the passes out of this look that produce the biggest EPA gains.

In 2022 the Cowboys took big steps in their 12 personnel. With Dalton Schultz and surprising rookie Jake Ferguson leading the charge, the Dallas offense wasn’t just a rushing offense in two TE looks, but they were a downfield passing attack as well.

At an EPA/play of 0.22 on passing attempts, Dallas’ 12 personnel led the team in passing efficiency of personnel groups with >25 snaps.

Both the TE1 and TE2 were legitimate receiving weapons with run after the catch ability. It made up for the Cowboys’ issues at WR that season and kept the offense less predictable in what is traditionally a run-heavy personnel group.

In 2023, the Cowboys weren’t so fortunate. With Schultz playing for the Texans and the rookie Luke Schoonmaker coming in to work behind Ferguson in most two TE looks, Dallas’ 12 personnel took a step back. For as good as Ferguson was in Year 2, Schoonmaker had a tough time assimilating as an NFL pass catcher.

The Cowboys used 12 personnel 119 times less than they did in the previous season, and overall used it four percent less than the league average (15.2% compared to 19.2%). Their EPA/pass of 0.14 in12 personnel group ranking behind their 11 personnel, 10 personnel and 21 personnel groups.

If the Cowboys move on from Michael Gallup in 2024, like many suspect they will, the offense will need to get more from their TE2 to make up for it.

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The 4 most important 2nd-year players for the Cowboys in 2024

The Cowboys didn’t get a ton out of their draft class, but these players will need to play big in their second seasons. | From @TimLettiero

After a strong 2022 class that saw multiple draftees take starting roles, the Dallas Cowboys’ 2023 class left a lot to be desired. Injuries, questionable development strategies and a flurry of other miscellaneous setbacks have lined this crop of players as ones to forget, but thankfully, time is on their side.

Dallas is facing an offseason filled with tough decisions, and because defections are inevitable, success will require younger players to step up. The pressure is on the 2023 class. Here are the four most important second-year names to watch in the 2024 season.

LOOK: Pollard’s strong drive ends when Prescott hits TE for early Cowboys lead

Dallas gets on the board first in Carolina.

Dak Prescott is continuing where he left off against the New York Giants in Week 10. Now in Carolina, the MVP candidate has put the pressure on the Panthers early with a touchdown on the club’s second drive.

The teams traded punts on the opening possessions, putting Dallas at their own 17-yard line to restart things for the offense. RB Tony Pollard, who hasn’t had the type of year he hoped for as the new No. 1 back, opened things off with a reception for 12 yards. He chipped in another 12 yards in back-to-back runs before later getting around the right edge on a pin-and-pull for 22 yards.

Now in the red zone, it took just two plays for Prescott to capitalize, finding rookie TE Luke Schoonmaker up the seam for the 18-yard score.