As the Dallas Cowboys gear up for training camp in just over a month, the spotlight is on a fierce competition brewing at the tight end position. While Jake Ferguson has cemented his role as the unquestioned TE1, the battle for the TE2 spot is heating up, with one player’s roster spot hanging by a thread.
Luke Schoonmaker, a 2023 second-round pick, was expected to be a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ offense. However, his first two seasons have been underwhelming, with fewer than 30 receptions and 300 receiving yards in each. Now, an emerging talent is threatening to push him down the depth chart—or even off the roster entirely.
Brevyn Spann-Ford: The Rising Star Shaking Things Up
Enter Brevyn Spann-Ford, a rookie who made waves during the Cowboys’ offseason workouts. Despite a modest 2024 campaign with nine catches for 88 yards across 17 games, Spann-Ford’s potential is turning heads. USA Today’s Ben Grimaldi predicts that the Cowboys will keep only three tight ends on their 53-man roster: Ferguson, Schoonmaker, and Spann-Ford. But Grimaldi warns that Spann-Ford’s breakout offseason could see him leapfrog Schoonmaker for the TE2 role.
“Keeping four RBs and six WRs means the Cowboys go lighter at tight end,” Grimaldi wrote in his June 18, 2025, 53-man roster prediction for the Dallas Cowboys after OTAs and minicamp. “Ferguson is the starter, but don’t be surprised if Spann-Ford takes over for Schoonmaker at TE2 after a big offseason.”
The Cowboys’ roster crunch adds pressure to the tight end group. With running back depth in flux and John Stephens recovering from another ACL injury, carrying a fourth tight end like Princeton Fant seems unlikely. For Schoonmaker, every snap in training camp will be a make-or-break moment.
Schottenheimer’s High Praise for Spann-Ford
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer couldn’t hold back his excitement about Spann-Ford’s growth. Speaking on June 12, per Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris, Schottenheimer highlighted the rookie’s transformative offseason.
“He had an incredible offseason,” Schottenheimer said. “The size alone, he moves really well. I think he added six or seven pounds of lean muscle mass. This guy is not just a run blocker and a pass protector. This guy can be a weapon because of his size in the middle of the field, matched up on linebackers and safeties.”
What sets Spann-Ford apart is his mental toughness. “You knew mentally that he knew, ‘I belong here. It doesn’t matter how I got here, I belong here,’” Schottenheimer added. “He’s pushing [Jake Ferguson] and [Luke Schoonmaker] and all those guys. He’s already made the jump. When he puts the pads on, you’re going to see him on the field.”
Schoonmaker’s Last Chance?
For Schoonmaker, the clock is ticking. His draft pedigree hasn’t translated into production, and with Spann-Ford nipping at his heels, he can’t afford any missteps. Training camp will be a proving ground where every drop, missed block, or mental error could cost him his spot as TE2—or worse.
The Cowboys’ tight end battle is shaping up to be one of the most compelling storylines of the summer. Will Schoonmaker rise to the occasion and reclaim his potential, or will Spann-Ford’s meteoric rise signal a changing of the guard? One thing is certain: in Dallas, no roster spot is safe.