The Cowboys didn’t know what to expect from their tight ends entering the 2023 season. When they let their three-year starter, Dalton Schultz, leave in free agency, they opened themselves up to a variety of unproven options and unknown outcomes.
Jake Ferguson, a 2022 rookie standout, and Peyton Hendershot, a surprise UDFA contributor, would be expected to pick up the slack. But as second-year players, how much and in what capacity wasn’t clear.
Joining the fray was their second-round pick, Luke Schoonmaker, who entered training camp injured and began Week 1 as TE3 in the pecking order.
As Week 1 unfolded, the three young TEs combined for 86 snaps and three recorded drops. The latter number is likely what stands out in the minds of many since the drops occurred at critical times that, in a closer game, could have been tide-turning.
Yet, lost in the fallout of the drops is the effectiveness of their blocking and general efficiency of their 12 personnel package.