Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson took an incredible jump in production from his rookie year to his season season in Dallas.
What’s in store for 2024? Ferguson isn’t predicting personal stats. But he’s trying to be honest about expectations. Demand more. He’s got it in him.
“To me, I think I’m not even scratching my surface,” Ferguson told ESPN. “There’s so many things that I want to get better at ,and I know I can get better at. We watch film every day of different games, even the practices we’re doing now. And I’m like, ‘OK, I can get a lot better still.'”
For context, Ferguson caught 19 passes, two of them for touchdowns, for 174 yards, his rookie year after the Cowboys used a fourth-round pick to pluck him from Wisconsin. Dalton Schultz was the Cowboys go-to tight end in 2022.
But then Schultz moved south to the Houston Texans. The Cowboys weren’t sure about Ferguson. They selected Luke Schoonmaker in the second round of last year’s draft. Then Ferguson showed he was the guy the offense needed. His numbers bounced to 71 catches for 761 yards and five touchdowns. And that’s why he made the Pro Bowl.
Ferguson was a late add to the Pro Bowl, earning the invite when the 49ers George Kittle had to withdraw because San Francisco made the Super Bowl. But here’s why his making the all-star game was so significant. The best Cowboys offenses have had a steady tight end to convert all those third downs. Ferguson was the first Dallas tight end to make the Pro Bowl since 2017. Before Ferguson, the last tight end to do so was Jason Witten, when he made his 11th.
Ferguson became the seventh Cowboys tight end to earn a spot. Besides Witten, the others were Jay Novacek, Doug Cosbie, Billy Joe DuPree, Dick Bielski and Lee Folkins. Novacek and DuPree were key members of Cowboys Super Bowl teams. And Cosbie played in NFC title games. Witten never played for a title, but he ended his career his second place in NFL history for tight end receptions (1,228) and yards (13,046).
Witten, who coaches at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, outside Dallas, told ESPN that he also expects Ferguson to take another jump.
“I think he can do it all,” Witten said. “He’s a willing blocker (and) he can bend. … Looks like he’s smart. He’s got great chemistry with Dak (Prescott). Good charisma. He can run. He understands separation. So I think now seeing himself do it, here’s where the growth comes.”
Cowboys tight end coach Lunda Wells says Ferguson is concentrating on consistency.
“The great ones play consistently on a high level every year throughout their careers,” Wells said. “The Wittens of the world. The Kelces of the world, so you want to be able to chase that consistency and play great every year. I think that might be one of the things he’s focusing on, ‘Hey, anybody can do it one year, but can I do it every year?'”
The Cowboys begin phase three of OTAs this Tuesday in Frisco. That means 11-on-11 drills, although with no contact. It’s another chance for Ferguson to take that next step.
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