Dak Prescott says Jake Ferguson 'close' to being big-time playmaker
The loss of Dalton Schultz in free agency raised a big question for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. As Dak Prescott‘s second-leading receiver last season, Schultz became an integral fixture of the offense.
The team drafted Luke Schoonmaker, tight end out of Michigan, in the second round of the draft, but it’s second-year tight end Jake Ferguson that appears poised to step into Schultz’s shoes.
To Prescott, Ferguson is nearly there. He sees the former fourth-rounder “really putting it all together,” he told reporters this week.
“I think he’s close to becoming a big-time guy. As far as a playmaker, he’s there,” Prescott said, via Jon Machota. “Just the way he stepped in and did what was asked of him last year and just the limited amount of reps to the role he’s taking on coming into this season, being the guy, being a big-time tight end, being where I need him to be, communicating his ass off, being on the same page, knowing what I expect of him, what the offense expects of him, being a great blocker, going back to his college days, something you knew he could do, but really putting it all together.
“And then you see him make a great catch in that preseason game, with a back-shoulder (catch). I think that just shows you, ‘Hey, you throw it to this guy, he wants to make the play and he expects to make the play.’ I think that’s where he takes this next step from just a playmaker to becoming a big-time player in this league.”
Now acclimated, Ferguson’s ready to step up
Ferguson played in 16 games for Dallas last season. Going into his second year in the league, he told reporters he’s feeling “more comfortable.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m comfortable but I would say just more [comfortable than I was as a rookie],” Ferguson said at camp. “Think I know what’s going on and I know what to expect a little bit more, and I know what to expect out of myself, but also that ceiling that I think I need to reach as a player and also for this team.
“I mean, I love it. Like kind of came out last year. I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t really know.’ And now this year, I’m like, ‘Go put your head down and let’s get after it.’”
In 2022, Ferguson had 19 catches on 22 targets for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow backup tight end Peyton Hendershot added another 11 catches for 103 yards. Also in the room is veteran Sean McKeon with four years of experience under his belt.
During the Cowboys’ loss to the Jaguars last Saturday, Ferguson pulled in three catches for 38 yards. He’ll get another shot at impressing the coaches and his teammates when Dallas faces Seattle on Saturday night.