Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson has settled his future after signing a four-year, $52 million deal with $30 million guaranteed as training camp continues in Oxnard.
But don't think he's about to let his standards slip.
After a disappointing 2024 season marked by a knee injury, a concussion, and the loss of Dak Prescott for half a year, Ferguson knew he had to have a bounce-back season in the worst way possible, in the hopes of sticking around beyond 2025.
But now that his future is sorted, it's given him a little time to reflect on where his football journey started, and where he is now as the starting tight end for the Cowboys.
“I just think about all the people who helped me get here,” Ferguson said. “It starts through youth football, my grandfather, my dad who was my coach, we go through college, my tight end's coach, Mickey Turner at Wisconsin, Paul Chris, the head coach there, and then getting here. Luckily, I've had the same position coach, Lunda Wells.
"With all those guys I named, I wouldn't be here, and this whole football journey and getting to this point, it's money, but it also doesn't change a thing. I still have to prove everything. I still have to get out there in between the lines and work my tail off. The ultimate goal is winning as many games as possible.”
With his financial future also secured, Ferguson can get back to doing what he does best, and that's play football.
In Brian Schottenheimer's offense, Ferguson, along with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens will be Prescott's main weapons in the pass game, and that is quite a trio for defenses to have to curtail.
Having caught zero touchdowns and putting up just 494 yards last season, Ferguson has put his nose to the grindstone, changing how he trains and his diet this offseason in an attempt to put last year behind him.
He's off to a good start in Oxnard, now he just has to continue it.
But make no mistake, just because he's gotten paid, doesn't mean the "big biscuit" will let his standards slip.
It's all gas, no brakes for No. 87.
