Blogging The Boys
Brevyn Spann-Ford is going to be a name to watch throughout training camp.
With injuries being among the big reasons the Dallas Cowboys fell out of contention in 2024, the amount of players they had to use and gain some experience for is something they can only hope to spin into a positive for new head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s first season. With OTAs and minicamp now concluded, training camp and the preseason is next on the docket, and will be the first real look into if the Cowboys have a deeper team ready to compete in 2025.
There is one spot on the roster that has stood out for it’s depth since the start of the offseason though, with added intrigue after the hiring of Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator and his emphasis on getting athletic blockers in space to create a dynamic run game. This position is tight end, where Schottenheimer concluded minicamp by specifically praising the play of second-year UDFA Brevyn Spann-Ford.
Spann-Ford appeared in all 17 games last season, mainly as a blocking tight end. He was a high-priority college free agent for the Cowboys out of Minnesota, and a player that took full advantage of starter Jake Ferguson not only battling through injuries, but having a down year in production overall a year ago. Ferguson is still a player the Cowboys should be looking to going into a contract year, as he is the best natural pass catcher and big play threat at TE, and a potential third best option in the pass game behind only CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens on a good day.
The Cowboys passing game seems to be shifting to more of a focus on dictating matchups under Schottenheimer and Adams though, and this is where Spann-Ford has even more of a chance to seize a larger role in his second season.
Schottenheimer pointed out Spann-Ford’s ability to use his size in the middle of the field to be a mismatch against smaller linebackers or safeties. The Cowboys HC went as far to say Spann-Ford is pushing both Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker for opportunities in this role, lining up with the first team throughout minicamp.
Schoonmaker is another player that took advantage of reps alongside or above Ferguson in flashes last season, looking more natural as a route runner and receiver down the seams. If these skills are going to be valued as much as they seemingly are in the Cowboys new-look offense, they have quite a stable of tight ends to give playing time.
Spann-Ford is not the only somewhat surprising name to consider in this mix, as fullback Hunter Luepke also saw some snaps at tight end in these early offseason practices. Luepke may be a full step behind the rest of the Cowboys TEs when it comes to explosive ability in the pass game, but if his blocking ability is being valued enough to line up here, it is further good news for Spann-Ford who was at his best...
