The Dallas Cowboys are coming off a 12-5 season in which they won the NFC East and secured the 3rd seed in the NFC heading into the playoffs. Despite this success, they were beaten in the Wild Card round by the San Francisco 49ers. The offensive firepower they possess leaves plenty to build off moving forward. In 2021 the Cowboys ranked first in the NFL in points and yards.
The focus has shifted to 2022 and there were several moves made by Dallas. Their most notable change was trading Amari Cooper to the Browns for a 2022 5th-round pick and a 6th-round pick swap. The move was a surprise and many felt as if they did not get enough back for the four-time Pro Bowler.
Aside from free agency, the Cowboys added nine new rookies during the draft. The hope is that each of these players will establish a long-term future in Dallas. While there were several notable additions, there has not been enough buzz surrounding 4th-round tight end, Jake Ferguson.
Cowboys Rookie Sleeper for 2022 NFL Season
Jake Ferguson was a top-five ranked tight end coming out of high school and an overall four-star recruit. He had several notable offers but elected to stay in his hometown and play for the Wisconsin Badgers. This was not a major surprise considering his grandfather, Barry Alvarez, was the former Head Coach and Athletic Director of the Badgers. He coached for 16 years which is the longest tenure of any coach in Wisconsin history. He also tallied the most overall wins during this time.
There was inconsistent quarterback play during Ferguson's time at Wisconsin but he still managed to produce. Across his four seasons of play, he tallied 145 receptions, 1618 yards, and 13 touchdowns. He was named to the 2021 All-Big Ten First-Team for his standout play. Ferguson also set the Wisconsin record for consecutive games with a catch with 39.
Standing 6’5” and weighing 250 pounds, Ferguson is capable of making tough catches and can take a hit with the ball. His tough brand of football is fun to watch. The Wisconsin native improved on his route running each year of college although there are still areas he could improve. He has enough speed to threaten on vertical routes and makes adjustments with the ball in the air. At times Wisconsin resulted to simply throwing it up for Ferguson to make a play and he delivered reliably.
New Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson
(Video: @ConnorJRogers) pic.twitter.com/z7R6LfhJ3V
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 30, 2022
There needs to be some improvement in his blocking but he has the size to be an asset. The Cowboys are currently slated to give Dalton Schultz the starting reps at tight end. Schultz had an impressive season last year tallying a career-high 78 receptions for 808 yards. Jeremy Sprinkle and Sean McKeon are also rostered at the position but are not expected to be heavily involved.
The addition of Jake Ferguson will give, offensive coordinator, Kellen Morre the freedom to incorporate more tight end heavy plays. Dallas will need to replace the production of Amari Cooper this season. CeeDee Lamb and Michale Gallup will surely see an uptick in targets, but tight ends are always a quarterback's best friend. His limitations as a blocker will limit Ferguson’s ability to get on the field early on, but the Cowboys will need to capitalize on his sure hands. At the minimum, you can expect the rookie to produce in some red zone opportunities and reel in a few touchdowns for the Cowboys. In the long-term, he will be capable of more than just this.
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