While there are still a few weeks remaining until the 2025 NFL Draft, it's always a good time to become familiar with players who could be tied to the Dallas Cowboys.
After a down year from Jake Ferguson and a strong draft class at the position, here's a look at a few tight end prospects America's Team could consider.
Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Playing at a small school always comes with the question of the talent of your competition. What quiets that noise is stepping up when playing a more competitive team. That's exactly what Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. did against Penn State and Texas A&M.
Standing 6-foot-3 and carrying 241 pounds, he looks more like a big wide receiver than a tight end. And his play replicates that of a primarily receiving threat rather than a blocking or two-way player.
Fannin's 2024 season was statistically highlighted by a monster game against Arkansas State, catching 17 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown.
But that performance was overshadowed by coming up big against Penn State and Texas A&M, as he combined for 19 catches for 282 yards and four touchdowns against top competition. Those are impressive numbers, but his play isn't flashy by any means.
His main assets are his hands and vision to find space against zone coverage. Fannin isn't going to get separation with his feet, but he can find holes in defensive schemes and exploit them. With the ball in his hands, the Ohio native is unafraid to drop the shoulder or juke his way around.
Fannin lacks the agility to be a threat in press coverage, and his slow feet can also lead him into poor positioning when blocking. When in position, the undersized tight end gets taken advantage of and is unable to give much of a push, resulting in him being more of a "get in the way" blocker than a mover.
Overall, he is not a special prospect but rather one that can be effective when used to his strengths. Rated as the 103rd prospect on PFF's big board, the Cowboys could look at him as a good underneath and safe option to draft late in the third or fourth round.
This question must be answered, though: Is Fannin's production a result of his skill and creation, or that of being the only reliable receiving option for Bowling Green?
Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
Athletic prospects tend to garner a lot of attention, especially when combined with good production.
Oregon's Terrance Ferguson doesn't have nearly the same offensive numbers as Fannin, but he was a reliable pass catcher in the Ducks' offense. He leaves the program as its all-time leader for catches (134) and touchdowns (16) at the position while nearly breaking the record for receiving yards, ranking second with 1,537.
The 22-year-old is a big but more skinny-bodied tight end standing at 6-foot-5 six feet and carrying 247 pounds. He's a fantastic target for quarterbacks, but his lighter frame can make him a weak point when blocking. On a positive note, he has more than enough room to add muscle without taking away from his speed.
Ferguson's 4.63-second 40-yard dash ranked the fastest among tight ends at the combine and is certainly impressive for someone his size. Most impressive was his 39-inch vertical, which ties for the 11th-highest in combine history for a tight end.
His hands are impressive as well, as he's able to catch most balls thrown into his catch radius. That includes holding onto the ball with a defender running downhill to knock the ball out. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has missed that reliable option underneath.
Ferguson is tight when running routes, making him unable to break loose when in tight coverage, but he can find the holes in zone defenses. He is especially effective running seams against Cover-2 defenses and catching the ball in stride. That is already a favorite of Dak's to throw.
When blocking, he seems to run out of position often. He routinely overruns his gap, leaving room for the rusher to cut inside. When in position, he doesn't offer much push and leans forward too much, turning him off balance. Filling out more of his frame will be a priority for every team in the league.
The Colorado native is, like most tight ends outside the Brock Bowers' of the world, a project. He is an athletic receiving tight end who has a lot of upside as a blocker with coaching and getting stronger in the weight room.
As the fifth-ranked tight end and 77th overall player on PFF's big board, Ferguson is a good player to bet on with a Day 2 pick, so long as a blocking tight end is already on the roster.
Jalin Conyers, Texas Tech
Finding a hidden star is difficult, but it pays off in spades when successful.
Sometimes, it's a kid from a small school that got overlooked; sometimes, it's a player that was underutilized or not set up for success. The case of Jalin Conyers offers many questions but also an optimistic outlook for what could be a hidden gem.
Off the bat, athleticism is impressive, scoring a 9.21 RAS out of 10, with his three-cone and shuttle performances catching most of the attention. That's due to his 6.94 and 4.27 respective times being the best among tight ends at the combine and the stark difference between his agility in Indianapolis and on tape.
NFL.com's Lance Zeurlein notes his quickness and route-running as needing improvement, and that does pop up on tape at times.
However, the 260-pounder has shown he is capable of running sharp routes, and impressive numbers in drills show he is not physically restricted from doing so. Then, what is it?
The Texas Tech program is pass-heavy, still rooted in the air raid offense once run by Patrick Mahomes. While Conyers is an effective pass-catcher, the offense under offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich favored fielding a blocking tight end in Mason Tharp rather than the athletic receiving tight end in Conyers.
It looks as if Conyers was frustrated with his usage and the opportunities given to him. At times, when wide open, he is overlooked or the pass is thrown off target. That frustration could be a red flag, but it also explains why it seems he doesn't look like he ran at 100 percent.
There are no known reports of him having a lack of confidence or being frustrated in the offense, but based on the body language on missed plays, the inconsistent sharpness in running routes, and the clear indication of being physically able, it is something that should be kept in mind.
Throw the ball in Conyers' catch radius, and he'll track it and bring it in. His already large stature is enlarged with his impressive vertical and soft hands, making him a red-zone and jump-ball threat. As a ball carrier, Conyers looks to make defenders miss with a spin or drop the shoulder and run through, but he always fights for extra yardage.
As a blocker, the Texas native wins with his reach and speed but will lose by being out of position and won't put defenders in the dirt. Moving in motion on run plays was frequent in his time with Texas Tech, combining his speed with Tharp's strength.
If the Cowboys believe they can bring in Conyers and work with him on building confidence and playing with more consistent effort, they can develop an effective two-way tight end.
He would be an exciting high-potential pick, especially considering the likelihood of being available late in the draft. He is currently ranked 199th on PFF's big board.
Taking a tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft is not a priority for the Cowboys, but it could be another way to add an offensive weapon, which is a need.
It could also be a pathway to prepare for the possible departure of Jake Ferguson next year and another option alongside Luke Schoonmaker. Owner Jerry Jones may want to take advantage of tight ends being ripe for the picking in this class.
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