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The Cowboys have suddenly created a lot of competition at tight end.
Time Is Running Out
There are actually two swords currently dangling over Schoonmaker’s head.
He’s getting pushed by 2024 undrafted free agent Brevyn Spann-Ford as well as 2023 UDFAs Princeton Fant and John Stephens.
Stephens has had his last two seasons derailed in the preseason by injury. When healthy, he showed signs of being a solid player.
Fant has been impressing this year, perhaps understanding that he needs to make it this year, or he may not be in the NFL much longer.
As for Spann-Ford, with the reported emphasis on running the ball, Spann-Ford is the kind of blocking tight end Dallas will require.
He’s also shown an ability to catch some passes too, especially when Jake Ferguson went down with an injury last year.
Outplaying these three challengers is the first sword that Schoonmaker must deal with. He can control that.
He has no control over the other sword, however.
Salary Cap Cut?
Unless he can prove himself invaluable to the Cowboys’ offense, Schoonmaker’s contract could make him very expendable.
Especially if Spann-Ford and Fant can show they are better options to back up Ferguson going forward.
The Cowboys defense is going through yet another change under Matt Eberflus, and some key players could be on the block.
DT Mazi Smith
Anyone else surprised to see Mazi Smith make this list? Probably not. Sadly, Dallas’ 2023 first-round pick as of yet hasn’t lived up to his draft status. Playing for different defensive coordinators in each of his first two seasons with the Cowboys probably didn’t help his development, which puts into question how he’ll perform with his third DC in three years (Matt Eberflus). If he doesn’t take a significant jump during his ever important Year 3, he could be playing elsewhere as soon as next season.
CB Trevon Diggs
Unless Trevon Diggs has a huge bounce-back season in 2025 he could be playing elsewhere next season. Injuries and regression over the past couple years could make him a salary-cap casualty after the completion of the 2025 season. The Cowboys can save more than $12.25 million by releasing him in the offseason and carry a dead cap hit of just under $6 million. They could also designate him a post-June 1 release and save $15.5 million and spread the dead cap over the 2026 and 2027 seasons at just under $3 million per year.
The Cowboys were...
