Why It's Now Or Never For Cowboys 'Draft Bust' Luke Schoonmaker
Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Schoonmaker needs a big uptick in performance if he's to stay a Cowboy.
If you wanted to know the dangers of an NFL team reaching for a selection, look no further than the Dallas Cowboys and their second round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Luke Schoonmaker. For most, the Cowboys took Schoonmaker a lot earlier than most expected, but given they needed a tight end, the franchise selected him, and his performances haven't lived up to his draft stock. It should be said that Schoonmaker was drafted as a blocking tight end, not a pure receiving threat, but over his three seasons, he has underwhelmed.
So much so that undrafted free agent Brevyn Spann-Ford has leapfrogged him on the depth chart. If a game were played today, Schoonmaker is TE3. Which is why this offseason and the year ahead are crucial for the former Michigan Wolverine.
Especially if he wants to remain a Cowboy. READ MORE: Cowboys Addresses Major George Pickens Concern; 'Expected' At Workouts? Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Schoonmaker is fighting against the tide to prove he's worthy of sticking around beyond 2026.
He has Spann-Ford to battle with in Oxnard, and with the Cowboys taking Michael Trigg and DJ Rogers as undrafted free agents, Schoonmaker is in a battle for his Dallas career over the coming months. We've seen Mazi Smith be moved on, and if Schoonmaker doesn't show something tangible this season, he'll follow suit. Granted, the future might already be set, but Schoonmaker, if he wants to extend his Dallas career - and avoid the tag of 'draft bust'' - has to put it together on the field in a way he hasn't managed to yet in his NFL career.