The Cowboys may already have a player on the roster who’s ready to make a real jump, and Brevyn Spann-Ford looks like the best bet to do it.
Dallas’ tight end room is built around Jake Ferguson, with Luke Schoonmaker and Spann-Ford filling out the rotation. Ferguson carried the load in a down year, posting eight touchdowns and 600 receiving yards on 82 catches.
Schoonmaker added 132 receiving yards, while Spann-Ford chipped in a touchdown. It’s a functional group, and all three have helped in the run game by blocking and aiding Javonte Williams.
Even with that production, there’s still a clear opening for more, especially at the second tight end spot behind Ferguson. Spann-Ford, who is entering what should be his third season, has the kind of traits that could make him a real difference-maker. The Minnesota product checks in at 6’7”, 270 lbs., giving Dallas a massive target in the passing game while also turning into one of the team’s better run blockers.
That blocking is where he separates himself. Spann-Ford is a polished, forceful blocker who will take on whoever’s in front of him, whether that means defensive tackles or all-pro edge rushers.
His edge and physicality show up on tape. At this point, his blocking is better than Schoonmaker’s, and that alone should give the Cowboys reason to trust him with more snaps.
If that happens, the passing game could be where the payoff comes. Spann-Ford has barely been featured there, but he has flashed enough to hint at more.
The Bears game, when he hurdled a defender, stands out as one example. Compared with Schoonmaker, whose receiving production has been underwhelming, Spann-Ford’s ceiling looks higher simply because of his size and frame.
At 6’7”, he has the build to win contested catches and create yards after the catch.
At minimum, Spann-Ford should be seeing more time on the field and more chances in the passing game. If Dallas leans into that, the Cowboys could have a new name emerging in a meaningful way.
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Cowboys Still Have One Line Problem That Could Haunt 2026
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Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele are still the names most likely to open at tackle, even though neither has given Dallas much reason to feel settled there in recent years. The team did add Drew Shelton as a developmental option, but he is not viewed as someone who can push for a starting job right away, which leaves the Cowboys with more hope than competition at a position group that could end up mattering just as much as any defensive overhaul. [Read more 🡒]