In the modern NFL, the league keeps adapting to the point where running backs and wide receivers are no longer the only guys who get the glory. They'll often get a leg up because of fantasy managers, but tight ends are becoming increasingly prevalent in offenses, especially in the red zone.
Given the importance of multi-TE sets, it's easier than ever for teams to hyper-target a star tight end in the red zone, but not often do. There are household names like Trey McBride and Tyler Warren, but the Dallas Cowboys are sitting on a tight end who is quietly becoming one of the best red zone threats in Jake Ferguson.
Ferguson is coming off of a big day in the Cowboys' 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday. He caught four passes for 43 yards and two touchdowns and is tied for the league lead among tight ends with two TD receptions alongside Isaiah Likely, Dallas Goedert, Darren Waller, Trey McBride, and Tyler Warren.
This is hardly our first piece of proof that Ferguson is one of Dak Prescott's go-to targets in the red area.
Jake Ferguson is one of the NFL's best red zone threats at his position
Prescott clearly has a good connection with the veteran tight end, as he's found paydirt 10 times since the start of last season. And that's in an offense where there are countless bigger fish to fry, including star WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and an ascending RB in Javonte Williams.
Dallas is home to a high-octane offense that's typically putting up points, but the 27-year-old is becoming one of Dak's main safety valves. While defenses focus more attention on Lamb and Pickens, Ferguson is often open up the seam and reminds defenses he is not to be underestimated
The only TEs with more receiving touchdowns than No. 87 since the start of 2025 are Goedert and McBride (both with 13). No Travis Kelce. No Brock Bowers. Not even Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland are ahead of the former Wisconsin standout. He certainly deserves to be fed near the end zone.
At 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, Ferguson is physical and has good body control, which makes it easy for Dak to trust him to come down with the football. But this isn't like trusting Pickens' size, because he's running go routes and fade routes. His job is to body smaller or slower defenders in the red zone, and it works.
Jake Ferguson still has a ways to go before he's up there with the best tight ends in the NFL, but the Dallas Cowboys don't need him to be. All they want is to see him step up as a red zone threat, and the Week 2 loss in Washington exposed that's exactly what he's becoming.
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