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Cowboys TE Battle: Hendershot vs. Ferguson to Start?

The Dallas Cowboys have a decision to make on Dalton Schultz, but in Peyton Hendershot and Jake Ferguson, the tight end position remains in good hands.

The Dallas Cowboys have some serious talent in the tight end room. … So much so that Dalton Schultz is being considered by some as being “surplus.”

The emergence of rookies Peyton Hendershot and Jake Ferguson gives hope inside The Star that the Cowboys can move on from Schultz, who is a free agent who might have a $14 million APY price tag on the open market.

So should Dallas decide not to tag Schultz (the decision window opens Tuesday) and to let him go free, Hendershot and Ferguson will then be left to battle it out for the top tight end spot.

Who could make a move and become "the guy" of the room?

Going by last season's output, both have staked their claims to have a significant role in coach Mike McCarthy's new West Coast offense. Given that “run after the catch” plays a significant role in the scheme, Ferguson and Hendershot are well-versed in making defenders miss.

That bodes well for the pair.

While the stat lines for Hendershot (11 catches, 103 yards, two touchdowns) and Ferguson (19 catches, 174 yards, two touchdowns) don't make for great reading, with more opportunities potentially coming their way next season, improvement is expected.

But given that both have shown their capabilities, could we see a united front from the two best-pal tight ends?

More so a TE 1 and TE 1A if you will? 

While some have reservations leaving the tight end room in the hands of two players still learning their craft, swallowing roughly $14 million a season for Schultz could make them think otherwise.

Hendershot, the UDFA from Indiana, has real speed. grow? Ferguson, the fourth-round pick, adds natural blocking skills. Obviously, both will play, and complement one another … especially if in 2023 they are elevated to co-TE1’s.


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