Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys are suddenly in the business of locking up their long-term assets, and apparently, Hunter Luepke is one of them. He was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this coming offseason, but Dallas has now given the third-year fullback a two-year contract extension and a significant raise.
Undrafted in 2023, Luepke has become a Swiss Army knife for the Cowboys’ offense and special teams. In addition to his official position, he can play as a running back and tight end. While he got some touches over the last two years under Mike McCarthy, he’s expected to see a larger role now with Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams’ professed desire to focus on the run.
While that remains to be seen, this new money certainly speaks to increased value for Luepke in Dallas.
Just a few days ago, the Cowboys agreed to a long-term contract with CB DaRon Bland. They’re also reportedly in talks with guard Tyler Smith about an extension. With many still reeling from the negotiation failure and shocking trade of Micah Parsons, it’s good to see the front office getting things done with other parts of the roster.
For Hunter Luepke, does this new deal suggest more work on Sundays (and Thursdays, Mondays, and whenever else the NFL schedules games now)? If the Cowboys are increasing their use of play-action, the fullback is often one of the potential targets. For one with Luepke’s athleticism, he could be dangerous out in space. We’ll see if the volume of targets and touches changes, but we expect more utilization of his versatility.
