It's impossible to overstate how much the 2023 NFL Draft set the Dallas Cowboys back. They were smack in the middle of a win-now window and completely whiffed on their top two picks, Mazi Smith (No. 26 overall) and Luke Schoonmaker (No. 58 overall).
Smith was shipped to New York in the Quinnen Williams trade and sits on the Jets' roster bubble ahead of OTAs and training camp, while Schoonmaker enters a contract year with just 49 catches for 438 yards and three touchdowns on his resumé.
On the heels of Brevyn Spann-Ford showing real growth in Year 2, and the Cowboys adding a pair of promising undrafted tight ends in April, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram believes Schoonmaker should be looking over his shoulder.
"Jake Ferguson and Brevyn Spann-Ford are roster locks heading into next season. As for the guys behind them, I think everyone should be on watch — most notably Luke Schoonmaker. He obviously hasn’t lived up to his second-round billing, but he’s been able to hang around for his point-of-attack blocking skills."
It's now or never for Dallas Cowboys TE Luke Schoonmaker to prove he belongs
Ultimately, Harris thinks that Schoonmaker will keep his job for another season, if only because UDFAs D.J. Rogers and Michael Trigg aren't polished blockers.
"Unless undrafted free agent signing D.J. Rogers passes him up in that department, I think he keeps his spot at least one more year. As for Michael Trigg, he just brings a different skill set. If he shines bright enough in camp, I think they would carry four tight ends and maybe pull a spot from wide receiver or another position."
Forget Harris' prediction. It's ridiculous that Schoonmaker is even in this position. Sure, the Cowboys may have (definitely) drafted him a round or two early, but he was still viewed as a third-round or early Day 2 pick. As a fourth-year pro, he should not have to beat out two rookies the league passed on 257 times.
Even if Schoonmaker ends up making the roster, it's just delaying the inevitable.
In three seasons, Schoonmaker has yet to play higher than 35 percent of the offensive snaps, and his share actually dropped from 411 in 2024 to 391 last year. Spann-Ford, an undrafted free agent in 2024, has already surpassed him in the pecking order.
With Jake Ferguson and Spann-Ford expected to handle most of the snaps, the Cowboys will prioritize a TE3 who can block and contribute on special teams. That could give Schoonmaker an edge over Rogers and Trigg, as he logged 241 special teams snaps in 2025.
Trigg didn't always show a willingness to block in college, but he's also the most athletic tight end on the roster. He could give Schoonmaker a run for his money if he embraces the unglamorous parts of the position.
If you're looking for position battles to watch in camp, Schoonmaker vs. Trigg vs Rogers is one to bookmark. The former second-round pick's grip on his role is far from secure heading into Year 4.
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