Blogging The Boys
Few Cowboys players need a big 2026 more than TE Luke Schoonmaker, but most of them probably have better opportunities. The former second-round pick is entering the final year of his contract with stalled development and potentially a lower spot on the depth chart. It’s going to be an uphill battle for Schoonmaker in what could be a career-defining season.
Years in NFL: 3
Acquired by: 2023 2nd-round pick
Schoonmaker was considered a Day 2 prospect in the 2023 draft class, and that’s exactly where the Cowboys got him as the 58th-overall pick. But Dallas’ need for TE that high was heavily questioned as, the year before, they’d seemed to find a Day 3 diamond with Jake Fergsuon. But with Dalton Schultz leaving in free agency and Ferguson being handed the starting job, the Cowboys felt they needed to hedge their bet both for that year and long-term. So, they spent the high pick on Schoonmaker.
Ferguson had a big first year as the starter, which led to some immediate chirping about the Schoonmaker pick being wasted. It was made worse by the fact that, despite the Cowboys’ struggling with receiving options in 2023, Schoonmaker was barely useful with just eight catches on 15 targets. Part of that was due to Mike McCarthy’s offense, but Schoonmaker reportedly struggled on the practice field as well.
In 2024, Schoonmaker’s contributions didn’t really increase. He did get more playing during a three-game absence by Ferguson due to injury, which helped his overall numbers, but when he was in the backup role he remained mostly invisible on offense. That worsened last year when another TE prospect, Brevyn Spann-Ford, started to make plays in even more limited opportunities.
By the end of 2025, Spann-Ford was rivaling Schoonmaker for snaps and status. Going into this season, Spann-Ford has the momentum as the two continue their battle for the TE2 position. Schoonmaker’s spot with the Cowboys isn’t the only thing on the line, but his 2027 free agency will be heavily impacted over the next several months.
Years Left: 1
2026 Cap Hit: $1.99 million
As his rookie deal winds up, Schoonmaker still has a modest cap hit that had remained low thanks to his not triggering performance bonuses. With just $389k in dead money on the deal, the Cowboys could get back about $1.6 million in cap space this year if they decide to move on to other prospects.
Role: Backup TE
Roster Chance: 66%
Is Schoonmaker competing with Spann-Ford for the primary backup role or with the rest of the pack for the third spot? That’s up for personal debate, but there’s a strong argument for the latter. Spann-Ford’s rise last year, thanks mostly to superior blocking ability but also solid receiving skills, give him the inside track. Some feel that he’s already separated himself enough to leave Schoonmaker fighting for his life with Dallas’ other developmental prospects.
Despite this being just his fourth season, Schoonmaker is...
