Spann-Ford is expected to earn a spot on Dallas' tight end depth chart behind starter Jake Ferguson, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Spann-Ford appeared in all 17 games for the Cowboys for the second straight season in 2025, so it's reasonable to anticipate he'll play a role in the offense again in 2026. However, he spent most of his snaps last year blocking, so there's no guarantee an increased snap count would translate to fantasy reliability
Dallas Cowboys tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford is projected to make the 53-man roster as a backup to Jake Ferguson. Spann-Ford has primarily been used as a blocker, with minimal receiving statistics in his two NFL seasons. In the event of a Ferguson injury, Luke Schoonmaker would be the preferred fantasy waiver-wire option
Dallas Cowboys tight end Michael Trigg has the receiving profile to draw dynasty interest, but he is still fighting just to make the roster. His final Baylor season was easily his best: 50 catches for 694 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games. At the combine, he measured 6-foot-3 3/4, 240 pounds, with 10 1/2-inch hands and an 84 3/8-inch wingspan, the longest among tight ends in the class. That length shows up on contested catches. The rest is less settled. Jake Ferguson is locked in at TE1, while Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford are already battling for the next job. Dallas has also made it clear that special teams and blocking will help decide whether Trigg survives final cuts. A practice-squad outcome remains very possible. RotoBaller ranks him TE43 in dynasty, which fits the uncertainty. He belongs on taxi squads only in deeper formats, not active redraft rosters. The upside is worth tracking, but camp has to come first
The Dallas Cowboys are making roster predictions for their 2026 season, with key decisions looming at wide receiver, tight end, and along the offensive line. While CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson are expected to retain their spots, notable cuts like Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Luke Schoonmaker are anticipated. Sam Howell is favored for the backup quarterback role over Joe Milton, and Phil Mafah is projected to edge out Malik Davis at running back. Defensive players Reddy Steward and Trikweze Bridges face uncertain futures despite significant playing time last season
In a year that saw 22 tight ends selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, Baylor's Michael Trigg was not one of the players to hear his name called, and he ultimately signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. Finishing second in the nation with 694 receiving yards from the tight end position and landing in the top five with his six touchdown grabs, talent has never been a concern for Trigg, but off-field issues are what led him to go undrafted. While the Cowboys organization has a checkered history of character concerns, that reputation has improved immensely in recent years, and if Trigg can keep things focused on football, he could earn his way onto the roster. Dallas is already deep at the position with Jake Ferguson and dedicated blockers Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford, but in a league trending toward heavier 12 and 13-personnel usage, it should come as no surprise if more teams start keeping four tight ends on the roster. Trigg offers a receiving element that neither Schoonmaker nor Spann-Ford would be able to provide should Ferguson miss extended time, and while he'll first need to make the team, RotoBaller's dynasty TE42 could ultimately prove to be a taxi squad stash with long-term fantasy upside
Luke Schoonmaker, a former second-round pick, faces a crucial 2026 season with the Cowboys. Entering the final year of his contract, his development has stalled, and he faces increased competition from TE prospect Brevyn Spann-Ford for the TE2 position. Schoonmaker's limited production in previous seasons, particularly in 2023 and 2024, raises concerns about his future with the team and his potential free agency status
Despite posting impressive testing metrics at the Scouting Combine, Dallas Cowboys tight end Michael Trigg did not hear his name called at the 2026 NFL Draft. The 23-year-old was productive in his final collegiate season at Baylor, recording 50 catches for 694 yards and six touchdowns across 11 games. However, he faces an uphill battle for a roster spot in Dallas. Cowboys tight ends Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, and Brevyn Spann-Ford are all likely assured of roster spots, leaving Trigg fighting for the TE4 role with Princeton Fant and DJ Rogers. If Trigg can catch on in Dallas, his athleticism provides him with some long-term upside for dynasty managers. Still, the Cowboys' crowded tight end depth chart may make it difficult for Trigg to earn fantasy-relevant playing time at any point in the foreseeable future. RotoBaller currently ranks Trigg as the 42nd-best tight end in dynasty formats
Spann-Ford remained a solid depth option for the Cowboys in Year 2, suiting up for all 17 regular-season games in 2025 while securing nine of 13 targets for 90 yards and one touchdown. Jake Ferguson remains Dallas' clear top tight end, but Spann-Ford's blocking capabilities should allow him to work along with Luke Schoonmaker in the rotation. If Ferguson misses any time, though, Schoonmaker appears more likely than Spann-Ford to step into a starting role
The Dallas Cowboys do not have a starter problem at the tight end position. Jake Ferguson solved that a while back, and the franchise confirmed it when it gave him a four-year extension during training camp last year. Ferguson is now locked in as one of Dak Prescott ’s trusted targets and is coming off a 2025 season in where he posted 82 catches, 600 yards, and eight touchdowns before being added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster. The more interesting question is what happens behind him. For years, the Cowboys have talked themselves into the idea that Luke Schoonmaker would eventually become the clear second tight end. That was the expectation after Dallas used a second-round pick on him in 2023. He had the size, testing profile, Michigan pedigree, and blocking background to become a useful complement to Ferguson. Three years later, though, the battle is much more open than the draft investment would suggest. Schoonmaker is still very much in the mix. The current Cowboys depth chart lists him behind Ferguson, ahead of Brevyn Spann-Ford, Princeton Fant, Michael Trigg, and D.J. Rogers. That is not meaningless. Coaches tend to trust players who know the system, and Schoonmaker has been in the building long enough to understand the details of the offense. But the production has not matched the investment. Schoonmaker finished 2025 with just 14 catches for 132 yards, while Spann-Ford caught nine of 13 targets for 90 yards and his first career touchdown. Neither player dominated the passing game, but Spann-Ford did more with less, and that matters when projecting who can force his way into a bigger role. The case for Schoonmaker is still easy to make. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract, so there is a clear financial incentive for him to have the best season of his career, and we’ve all seen what players suddenly do in a contract year. He has also said he feels fully healthy this offseason for the first time as a pro, after dealing with foot surgery, shoulder surgery, and other soft-tissue issues earlier in his career. If he can become more than a short-area safety valve and actually threaten the seam, Dallas suddenly has a different answer in 12 man personnel. Ferguson is already the chain-mover. George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb will command attention outside. A tight end who can get behind linebackers would give Brian Schottenheimer another way to attack defenses that want to sit on underneath routes. The issue is that projection has been doing a lot of the work with Schoonmaker. At some point, a former second-round pick has to become more than a theoretical playmaker. The Cowboys do not need TE2 to be a star, but they do need that player to have a defined weekly function. Right now, Spann-Ford’s role feels clearer. Spann-Ford gives Dallas size, physicality, and a more natural fit as the second tight end in heavier personnel. With his size he brings a different body type to the room. He can function attached to the line, help in the run game, and still present enough of a receiving target over the middle to punish smaller defenders. Last offseason, we saw how the offense used Spann-Ford’s size as a mismatch tool, and this is the key difference. Schoonmaker’s argument is based on what he could still become. Spann-Ford’s argument is based on what he already does well. Schoonmaker can still win it if he finally becomes the downfield threat the Cowboys have been waiting on. He has the athletic profile, the draft pedigree, and the contract-year motivation. A strong training camp would make it easy for the coaching staff to keep him in the role they always envisioned for him. But the prediction here is Spann-Ford. The likely Week 1 projection is Ferguson as TE1, Spann-Ford as TE2, Schoonmaker as TE3, and Trigg either making the roster as a developmental receiving option or landing on the practice squad if Dallas only keeps three traditional tight ends. Princeton Fant, Michael Trigg, and D.J. Rogers are fighting from dee
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From a contract perspective, the Dallas Cowboys need to count their pennies carefully at the moment since, per Spotrac, they are 28th in salary cap space with just under $8M available. Still, that shouldn’t mean the Cowboys aren’t looking to extend players in the final years of their contracts. Almost every summer, usually during training camp, the Cowboys open the checkbook to award players some fresh cash in the form of extensions. When looking at the team, who are some players the Cowboys could sign to extensions soon? Here are a few candidates. Since joining the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2024, Brevyn Spann-Ford has carved out a role for himself with the Cowboys. Over his first two years, Spann-Ford has been mostly a reserve utilized as a special teams player and the blocking tight end. As a blocker, he excels. The reason why Spann-Ford could be in line for an extension, and likely a modest one at that, is because there’s some untapped potential as a pass catcher. He isn’t as fluid as other counterparts on the roster, but his large catch radius makes him a big target in the red zone and over the middle of the field where Dak Prescott loves to utilize tight ends. We must also consider that Luke Schoonmaker is in the final year of his contract and hasn’t done much to blow the team away after being drafted in the second round. Last season, Spann-Ford played on 24% of the offensive snaps versus 33% for Schoonmaker. If Dallas wants to pair their Pro Bowl tight end Jake Ferguson with someone who is a good blocker with some receiving potential, it would align with Dallas giving Spann-Ford a new deal. The future of the Cowboys defense centers around a complete makeover of the personnel. The edge talent has been overhauled, and the linebacker room has more depth. DeMarvion Overshown is in the middle of it all with a unique skill set that allows him to be impactful in multiple ways. He can play horizontally and can rush the passer. Still, if he were to sign an extension in the next few months, it would mean the Cowboys have a lot of faith in his future Overshown, while talented, hasn’t stayed healthy enough in his career to warrant a market-setting contract. Dallas, believing in his potential, could get ahead of the curve and pay Overshown before the season kicks off. Per Overthecap.com , Fred Warner is at the top of the market with a salary of $21M. Somewhere near the middle of the pack is Nakobe Dean , who passed on the Cowboys to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders , at $12M per season. The Cowboys could decide to get ahead of the curve and tie Overshown down to a mid-size contract that would end up being team-friendly if he stays healthy and reaches his true potential. The second linebacker on this list is Dee Winters. The Cowboys made a trade for Winters during the draft and were able to pry a productive player from one of their longtime rivals, the San Francisco 49ers . Winters had a career year last season with 101 tackles, eight for a loss, and one interception returned for a touchdown. Winters has very good spatial awareness in zone coverage. He also has prior experience with relaying the signals. If Winters is willing to take on a short-term extension, albeit for just one more season, along with Overshown, it gives the Cowboys a dynamic interior along with a developing Jaishawn Barham
It’s hard enough to find meaningful NFL work as an undrafted rookie, but DJ Rogers faces an even tougher challenge this year with the Cowboys. TE Michael Trigg is getting all of the attention now, meaning Rogers has to not only try to beat veteran talent for a job but also outshine his fellow UDFA this summer. Years in NFL: 0 Acquired by: UDFA (2026) Rogers spent five years at TCU, mostly in a backup role until leading all their tight ends in receiving stats last season as redshirt senior. But with the Horned Frogs’ offense not generally featuring TEs, Rogers’ career highs were still just 34 catches for 319 yards and two touchdowns. He entered the draft process without the numbers or nationwide recognition for high stock, though he did at least participate in the Senior Bowl. Even without much buzz, Rogers’ athleticism and raw ball-catching ability were enough to keep him in the draft conversation. Some even saw him as a potential late-round pick, but Rogers ultimately did not get selected. He would soon sign with Dallas as a free agent, though his arrival was mostly lost in Trigg’s shadow. Rogers will have to make some rapid improvements as a blocker and route technician, based on pre-draft scouting reports, if he’s going to be more than a camp body. Years Left: 3 2026 Cap Hit: $893k Like most UDFAs, Rogers got the standard 2-3 year deal for minimal money. He did get slightly less guaranteed money than Trigg, but not enough that would be a meaningful factor at final cuts. Role: Backup TE Roster Chance: 10% Again, this is going to be a tough group to crack. Even with his extra buzz, Trigg is still an underdog against the veteran trio of Jake Ferguson , Brevyn Spann-Ford , and Luke Schoonmaker . Dallas probaby isn’t going to keep four TEs so long as FB Hunter Luepke is around, so that’s just three seats when the music stops. Rogers’ future is heavy on hope at this point. Even if the Cowboys do cut bait on Schoonmaker, which is still very uncertain, he’d have to get through Trigg and Princeton Fant to take advantage. Fant’s been hanging around the team for three years as a practice squadder and occasional roster call-up, so he can’t be ignored. But again, it’s a moot point if Dallas decides to see things through on the final year of Schoonmaker’s contract. Rogers’ realistic goal should be to show enough upside that the team wants to keep developing him on the practice squad. That’s far from nothing: the Cowboys have routinely had former undrafted TEs move and grow into roster roles. Spann-Ford looks like he’ll be the primary backup this season, and we’ve seen the likes of Blake Jarwin , Sean McKeon , and Peyton Hendershot in the last few years. If there’s something worth mining out of a TE prospect, Dallas has a great coach in Lunda Wells to find it and maximize it. Whether it’s for his Cowboys future or maybe a shot with another team, DJ Rogers will be looking to pull some eyes his way in this year’s training camp. He can’t help the intrigue around Michael Trigg now, but he may be able to steal some of that spotlight in Oxnard and in the preseason. Check out our previous player profiles from this series: C Cooper Beebe G Tyler Booker S Alijah Clark EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku TE Jake Ferguson S Malik Hooker WR Jordan Hudson LB Shemar James G Trevor Keegan S P.J. Locke FB Hunter Luepke RB Phil Mafah QB Joe Milton III WR Jonathan Mingo CB Devin Moore LB DeMarvion Overshown LS Trent Sieg WR Anthony Smith OT Terence Steele CB Reddy Steward DT Jay Toia EDGE Tyrus Wheat EDGE Sam Williams
Spann-Ford caught nine of 13 targets for 90 yards and his first career touchdown over 17 games for the Cowboys in 2025. The second-year tight end has emerged as a dependable depth option, drawing excellent grades for his run blocking while also handling a regular role on special teams. Spann-Ford got rewarded for his work in the trenches with a four-yard TD pass from Dak Prescott in Week 12, but his usage as a pass rush catcher behind starter Jake Ferguson remains limited. Spann-Ford has one more year left on his rookie contract before becoming a restricted free agent, so he should fill a similar spot on the depth chart in 2026
Spann-Ford caught his only target for a four-yard touchdown in Sunday's 24-21 win over the Eagles. The second-year tight end barely kept his balance after colliding with Andrew Mukuba to haul in his first career NFL touchdown on a designed rollout by Dak Prescott in the third quarter. Spann-Ford's role on offense remains limited -- he has yet to see more than one target in any game this season en route to a 5-22-1 line on six targets through 11 games -- and even if something were to happen to starter Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker (8-63-0 on 16 targets this season) might remain ahead of him on the depth chart
Spann-Ford was on the field for 24 of the Cowboys' 67 snaps on offense and recorded a four-yard reception on his lone target in Monday's 33-16 win over the Raiders. Spann-Ford once again served as Dallas' No. 3 tight end, with his 36 percent snap share placing him behind Jake Ferguson (63) and Luke Schoonmaker (45). The second-year player out of Minnesota now has four receptions for 18 yards on five targets through 10 appearances
Spann-Ford went without a target while playing 15 of the Cowboys' 67 snaps on offense in Sunday's 44-22 win over the Commanders. Though starting tight end Jake Ferguson went off for seven catches for 29 yards and two touchdowns Sunday, neither Spann-Ford nor fellow backup Luke Schoonmaker saw any involvement in the passing game. Spann-Ford -- who has recorded two catches for five yards on three targets through seven games -- will continue to see limited playing time on offense but should have a regular role on special teams
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