Why the Cowboys should remain optimistic for TE Luke Schoonmaker’s future

Luke Schoonmaker’s rookie season didn’t go as expected in Dallas. As the No. 58 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, the Cowboys had high hopes for the former Michigan TE. He was supposed to make up for the loss of free agent departure, Dalton Schultz. He was supposed to be the TE1 by season’s end.

And with 37 collegiate games under his belt and entering the NFL at nearly 25-years-old, he was supposed to be a plug-and-play selection. Supposed to. Things didn’t turn out that way, but there’s plenty to remain hopeful about as Schoonmaker enters his second offseason.

Schoonmaker’s start with Dallas got off to a slow start when a case of plantar fasciitis kept him out of the action early in the offseason. Second-year TE Jake Ferguson held onto the TE1 spot with a firm grip but behind him the competition was wide open. After easing into training camp, the rookie started to rise up the depth chart.

Sean McKeon was largely capped in his potential and second-year player Peyton Hendershot took what appeared to be a step back. TE2 became Schoonmaker’s, almost by default.

But the rookie would go on to play just 368 offensive snaps in 2023. He caught eight balls for a total of 65 yards, but worse than that, it was the miscues that largely defined his rookie season.

With three official drops on his resume, Schoonmaker’s drop percentage sat at 20%. His shallow goal-line route in the Cowboys’ first matchup against the Eagles likely cost Dallas the game. And his blocking, perceived to be his bread and butter, wasn’t quite as polished as it was made out to be in the draft process.

It was a season to forget for the rookie TE and a pick many Cowboys fans wish they had back. Fan favorites like O’ Cyrus Torrence, Tank Dell and DeVon Achane were all on the board at the time of the pick, and all would have offered the offense far more in return.

But the story is not yet written on Schoonmaker and there’s reason to believe good days await the former second round pick.

One big factor to consider is the difficulty of the position. TE is part WR and part OL. It has all the blocking nuances of one and all the pass catching nuances of the other. It’s a notoriously difficult position in which to assimilate and its learning curve is unique to everyone – even seemingly polished players like Schoonmaker.

For every Ferguson and Witten who hit the ground running, there are dozens of prospects who struggle in the early days. Schultz, Schoonmaker’s predecessor in Dallas, only took 300 offensive snaps as a rookie. Hailing from Stanford, aka “Tight End U,” Schultz was also someone who the Cowboys thought would develop quickly. Yet like many who came before him, Schultz also took some extra time in his development. Schultz only had 13 receptions in his first two seasons in the NFL and didn’t truly breakout until his third season.

The impact of the plantar fascia tear clearly factors into Schoonmaker’s poor rookie season. He was robbed of offseason work, including valuable time in the weight room and practicing routes. A full offseason of both things should get him on a much better path in Year 2.

Finally, there’s the pressure. Ferguson established himself as a fan favorite and clear TE1 in the NFL. Playing in his first Pro Bowl this winter, Ferguson has a bright future with the Cowboys. Because of that, Schoonmaker doesn’t have the pressure of stepping up into the TE1 role in 2024. With Ferguson under contract for the next two seasons, Schoonmaker won’t face that kind of pressure until 2026 at the earliest. All Schoonmaker has to do is be the best TE2 he can be, and things will sort themselves out.

The Cowboys struggled mightily in 12 personnel last season and a big reason why is because Schoonmaker wasn’t a viable threat downfield. The Cowboys adjusted by playing their 11 personnel more often, and their 12 personnel far below league average. They would love to change that in 2024.

With better play from Schoonmaker, the Cowboys can shift back to more two-TE personnel groups. Their offense will then be less predictable and more in tune with league trends. So, while the TE1 position may not be open for Schoonmaker any time soon, a much bigger TE2 role could be instore for the second year TE and that could have a significant impact on the Cowboys offense in 2024 and beyond.

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Story originally appeared on Cowboys Wire