The Dallas Cowboys have undergone some considerable offensive personnel changes throughout the offseason from top to bottom.
On top? It started when the Cowboys parted ways with head coach and play-caller Mike McCarthy and promoted Brian Schottenheimer to that big chair.
Additionally, they addressed some glaring holes on the roster. The trade for wide receiver George Pickens remains the most notable of these, but Dallas also installed rookie Tyler Booker at right guard and brought in an entirely new backfield comprised of rookies and veterans. Oh, and Dak Prescott remains QB1 though they pursued and acquired Joe Milton III to serve as his new backup.
It appears Jake Ferguson will headline the tight end group once again. No problem there. Second-year UDFA Brevyn Spann-Ford seemed to be slotting in behind him at minicamp.
Spann-Ford has been gaining momentum this offseason and has Schottenheimer believing in a big jump next season as he detailed in his press conference last week.
"This guy is not just a run blocker and a pass protector,'' the coach said, according to Billy Heyen of Sporting News. "This guy can be a weapon because of his size in the middle of the field, matched up on linebackers and safeties...He's already made the jump."
Schoonmaker has not lived up to the billing of a second-round pick, which he was in the 2023 NFL Draft.
And so along comes the media urgings and the ideas of a trade of Schoonmaker which would actually be what we've called a "trade dump'' – meaning a move just to make a move, a give-up on a player who isn't going to cut it.
Any problems with the idea?
Just one: The idea of trading a low-usage player to add some draft capital sounds good in theory. But there really is no market for him out there; why does another team want to give any value for your failed third-string player?
The best use of Schoonmaker – pending somebody dangling anything of value for him, which could in theory happen with NFL injuries in training camps – is about development, insurance and preseason showcasing.
Dallas needs the supporting cast pieces able to do some of the dirty work or step in when their number's called. Schoonmaker can still do that though it appears he'll be doing it as a semi-expendable third-string tight end.
