Cowboys Sign Round 2 TE Luke Schoonmaker
The Cowboys became the first team this year to sign a second-round pick to his four-year rookie deal. Luke Schoonmaker agreed to terms with Dallas on Thursday, according to his agent (on Twitter).
A Michigan tight end, Schoonmaker lasted until the No. 58 overall pick. The second round featured a run on tight ends, with three — Sam LaPorta (Lions), Michael Mayer (Raiders) and Luke Musgrave (Packers) — going off the board from Nos. 34-42. The Jaguars also chose Brenton Strange, at No. 61, to wrap a five-tight end second round.
[RELATED: Team-By-Team 2023 NFL Draft Results]
ESPN’s Scouts Inc. viewed Schoonmaker as this year’s No. 71 overall prospect, slotting him as the class’ eighth-best tight end. The Cowboys thought more of the Big Ten prospect. The 6-foot-5 pass catcher totaled just 19 career catches before his senior season. In 2022, he caught 35 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns.
Dallas has coaxed production from a surprising tight end source in the recent past, seeing Dalton Schultz become a key Dak Prescott target despite arriving as a fourth-round pick five years ago. The Cowboys plugged in Schultz as their top tight end following Blake Jarwin‘s injury troubles and franchise-tagged the former in 2022. The sides could not agree on terms ahead of last July’s deadline, leading Schultz to the Texans on a surprisingly low-cost deal (one year, $6.25MM).
Although Cowboys-Mayer connections formed ahead of the draft, the team passed on the Notre Dame tight end and left him on the board for the Raiders at No. 35. Mayer graded as this draft’s second-ranked tight end, per Scouts Inc., but the Cowboys chose a Schoonmaker Wolverines teammate — defensive tackle Mazi Smith — at No. 26 overall. Schoonmaker joins second-year players Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot — each of whom played at least 300 offensive snaps as rookies — as the Cowboys’ top tight ends.
Cowboys Rumors: Parsons, Draft, Ball, Smith
Cowboys defensive star Micah Parsons has not been in attendance for voluntary workouts in Dallas thus far. According to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News, this has nothing to do with any issues in his relationship with the team and is actually in service of the team.
Parsons has reportedly been in Austin attempting to bulk up in preparation for more playing time at defensive end. One of the NFL’s more versatile athletes, Parsons played mostly in the box as a rookie before spending the majority of his time last year on the line. At 245 pounds last year, Dallas staff felt he needed to add some muscle in order to better handle routine double-teams.
So, Parsons’s absence is not contract related in any way. He says he’s added about seven pounds and doesn’t intend to surpass 255 in his career. Parsons also claimed earlier that he would be in attendance for Organized Team Activities set to start in two weeks. His absence shouldn’t worry too many as he’s determined to come back stronger and even more dangerous.
Here are a few more rumors concerning the Cowboys:
- There was reportedly another option on the table for the Cowboys when they used the 26th overall pick to select Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith in the first round of this year’s draft. According to David Moore of The Dallas Morning News, Dallas heavily considered using the pick to draft Syracuse offensive guard Matthew Bergeron, who would go on to be selected by Atlanta 12 picks later. Bergeron fit their needs due to the departure of starting guard Connor McGovern to Buffalo. They did address the offensive line later in the draft and likely still will with undrafted free agents, but many expect last year’s first rounder, Tyler Smith, to bounce into a guard spot with the healthy returns of Tyron Smith and Terence Steele, covering the role.
- Another piece of the offensive line, Josh Ball will have some new expectations this year, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. After Ball saw extremely limited time in his first two years, mostly at tackle, head coach Mike McCarthy has stated that Ball will be asked to play on the interior this season, as well. This is perhaps another potential solution to the loss of McGovern, or it could just be a backup plan after seeing all the offensive line injuries from last season.
- Mostly known for his career in San Francisco but last known on the field as a Cowboy, Aldon Smith recently received an update to his off-field situation. Last we heard, the troubled defender had been arrested on a felony charge of DUI causing injury, adding to the litany of issues that had resulted in a four-year suspension from the NFL. Now, according to TMZ, Smith’s arrest has led to a 12-month sentence in jail, likely ending any far-reaching hopes of a return to the NFL.
Cowboys Eyeing K Addition, Open To Re-Signing Brett Maher
The Cowboys currently have just one kicker on their roster (Tristan Vizcaino), but that total will increase in the near future. Dallas chose not to make an addition at the position during the draft, meaning one or more veteran signings should be expected. 
Kicker was not an area of concern during the regular season in 2022, with Brett Maher winning a preseason competition and enjoying a consistent campaign. The former CFLer went 29-for-32 on field goals, good for a career-best 90.6% conversion rate. He also missed only three of a league-high 53 extra point attempts, though things changed dramatically in the postseason.
Maher missed four straight PATs during the Cowboys’ wild-card win over the Buccaneers, leading to the addition of Vizcaino. His playoff struggles would seem to suggest Maher’s second Cowboys stint would be coming to a close with either the latter or a rookie taking on the full-time kicking position, but that may not be the case. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently confirmed that all options remain open at this point with Maher and others.
“Obviously, we want to come up with the best solution that we can there, but we didn’t get the kicker opportunity that we thought we might get in the draft,” Jones added, via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. “And we had other priorities when we had a chance to get it. We took somebody else obviously.”
Three kickers heard their names called last weekend, but a number of options remain available amongst undrafted prospects. The Cowboys have yet to announce their UDFA class, but it would thus come as no surprise if one or more kickers were included in it this year. As far as veterans are concerned, the likes of Robbie Gould, Mason Crosby and Randy Bullock are available to sign at any time. How Maher plays into the Cowboys’ next kicking competition (if at all) will be worth monitoring as the rest of the offseason takes shape.
2024 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker
NFL teams have until May 2 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2020 first-rounders who are entering the final year of their rookie deals. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of the player’s position, initial draft placement and performance- and usage-based benchmarks:
- Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternate Pro Bowlers) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag.
- One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag.
- Players who achieve any of the following will get the average of the third-20th highest salaries at their position:
- At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
- A 75% snap average across all three seasons
- At least 50% in each of first three seasons
- Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position.
With the deadline looming, we’ll use the space below to track all the option decisions from around the league:
- QB Joe Burrow, Bengals ($29.5MM): Exercised
- DE Chase Young, Commanders ($17.45MM): Declined
- CB Jeff Okudah, Falcons* ($11.51MM): N/A
- T Andrew Thomas, Giants ($14.18MM): Exercised
- QB Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins ($23.2MM): Exercised
- QB Justin Herbert, Chargers ($29.5MM): Exercised
- DT Derrick Brown, Panthers ($11.67MM): Exercised
- LB Isaiah Simmons, Cardinals ($12.72MM): Declined
- CB C.J. Henderson, Jaguars** ($11.51MM): Declined
- T Jedrick Wills, Browns ($14.18MM): Exercised
- T Mekhi Becton, Jets ($12.57MM): Declined
- WR Henry Ruggs, Raiders: N/A
- T Tristan Wirfs, Buccaneers ($18.24MM): Exercised
- DT Javon Kinlaw, 49ers ($10.46MM): Declined
- WR Jerry Jeudy, Broncos ($14.12MM): Exercised
- CB AJ Terrell, Falcons ($12.34MM): Exercised
- WR CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys ($17.99MM): Exercised
- OL Austin Jackson, Dolphins ($14.18MM): Declined
- CB Damon Arnette, Raiders: N/A
- DE K’Lavon Chaisson, Jaguars ($12.14MM): Declined
- WR Jalen Reagor, Vikings*** ($12.99MM): To decline
- WR Justin Jefferson, Vikings ($19.74MM): Exercised
- LB Kenneth Murray, Chargers ($11.73MM): Declined
- G Cesar Ruiz, Saints ($14.18MM): Declined
- WR Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers ($14.12MM): Exercised
- QB Jordan Love, Packers ($20.27MM): Extended through 2024
- LB Jordyn Brooks, Seahawks ($12.72MM): Declined
- LB Patrick Queen, Ravens ($12.72MM): Declined
- T Isaiah Wilson, Titans: N/A
- CB Noah Igbinoghene, Dolphins ($11.51MM): Declined
- CB Jeff Gladney, Vikings: N/A
- RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs ($5.46MM): To decline
* = Lions traded Okudah on April 11, 2023
** = Jaguars traded Henderson on Sept. 27, 2021
*** = Eagles traded Reagor on August 31, 2022
Cowboys Remain Open To Ezekiel Elliott Reunion
The Cowboys were among many teams to add running backs during the draft, a signal seen by some that they are fully prepared to move on from Ezekiel Elliott. That still may not be the case, however. 
The Cowboys used a sixth-round pick on Deuce Vaughn, a move which generated considerable interest in its own right around the league given the fact that his father Chris works in the team’s scouting department. The Kansas State product figures to serve in a rotational role behind Tony Pollard, who will play on the franchise tag in 2023 after establishing himself as the clear-cut No. 1 back for Dallas.
The five-foot-five Vaughn will likely never be tasked with handling short-yardage and goal line duties, however, something which was true of Elliott in 2022 in particular. The latter’s efficiency and totals hit a career low last season, but he could still carve out a specific role as a power back in the next offense he plays in. That could still end up bringing him back to Dallas.
When asked if the door is now closed to an Elliott reunion, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, “No, no, no, not at all. That ship hasn’t sailed yet. We haven’t made a decision. We obviously drafted a running back, but a little different style than Zeke. I’m not trying to be cute. But nothing we did today changes that” (h/t David Moore of the Dallas Morning News).
It was learned last month that the Cowboys declined to offer the two-time rushing champion a pay cut after making the expected move of releasing him. At that point, they acknowledged the possibility of a reunion, though it remains to be seen how motivated they will be to bring Elliott into what is now a more crowded backfield. The former No. 4 pick has yet receive much (if anything) in the way of interest from the three other teams he is reportedly looking to join.
That could change in the near future, as he and all other veteran free agents will evaluate which teams could represent suitable landing spots with the draft now complete. A number of experienced running backs are still on the market, but Elliott’s future – with the Cowboys or otherwise – could become clearer soon.
“That’s what we’ll be sitting here evaluating,” Jones added. “We’ll look and see what his situation is, what our situation is. But I have not ruled out Zeke.”
2023 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team
As the 2023 NFL Draft gets underway, we will keep track of each team’s haul here:
Arizona Cardinals
Round 1, No. 6 (from Rams through Lions): Paris Johnson, OT (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 2, No. 41 (from Titans): BJ Ojulari, DE (LSU) (signed)
Round 3, No. 72 (from Titans): Garrett Williams, CB (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 94 (from Eagles): Michael Wilson, WR (Stanford) (signed)
Round 4, No. 122 (from Dolphins through Chiefs and Lions): Jon Gaines II, G (UCLA) (signed)
Round 5, No. 139 (from Broncos through Lions): Clayton Tune, QB (Houston) (signed)
Round 5, No. 168 (from Cardinals through Lions): Owen Pappoe, LB (Auburn) (signed)
Round 5, No. 180: Kei’Trel Clark, CB (Louisville) (signed)
Round 6, No. 213: Dante Stills, DT (West Virginia) (signed)
Atlanta Falcons
Round 1, No. 8: Bijan Robinson, RB (Texas) (signed)
Round 2, No. 38 (from Colts): Matthew Bergeron, T (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 75: Zach Harrison, DE (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 4, No. 113: Clark Phillips III, CB (Utah) (signed)
Round 7, No. 224 (from Raiders): DeMarcco Hellams, S (Alabama) (signed)
Round 7, No. 225: Jovaughn Gwyn, G (South Carolina) (signed)
Baltimore Ravens
Round 1, No. 22: Zay Flowers, WR (Boston College) (signed)
Round 3, No. 86: Trenton Simpson, LB (Clemson) (signed)
Round 4, No. 124: Tavius Robinson, LB (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 5, No. 157: Kyu Blu Kelly, CB (Stanford) (signed)
Round 6, No. 199: Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OT (Oregon) (signed)
Round 7, No. 229 (from Browns): Andrew Vorhees, G (USC) (signed)
Buffalo Bills
Round 1, No. 25 (from Giants through Jaguars): Dalton Kincaid, TE (Utah) (signed)
Round 2, No. 59: O’Cyrus Torrence, G (Florida) (signed)
Round 3, No, 91: Dorian Williams, LB (Tulane) (signed)
Round 5, No. 150 (from Commanders): Justin Shorter, WR (Florida) (signed)
Round 7, No. 230 (from Buccaneers through Jets, Texans, Eagles and Bills): Nick Broeker, G (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 7, No. 252 (from Buccaneers through Rams): Alex Austin, CB (Oregon State) (signed)
Carolina Panthers
Round 1, No. 1 (from Bears): Bryce Young, QB (Alabama) (signed)
Round 2, No. 39: Jonathan Mingo, WR (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 3, No. 80 (from Steelers): D.J. Johnson, DE (Oregon) (signed)
Round 4, No. 114: Chandler Zavala, G (North Carolina State) (signed)
Round 5, No. 145: Jammie Robinson, S (Florida State) (signed)
Chicago Bears
Round 1, No. 10 (from Saints through Eagles): Darnell Wright, OT (Tennessee) (signed)
Round 2, No. 53 (from Ravens): Gervon Dexter, DT (Florida) (signed)
Round 2, No. 56 (from Jaguars): Tyrique Stevenson, CB (Miami) (signed)
Round 3, No. 64: Zacch Pickens, DT (South Carolina) (signed)
Round 4, No. 115 (from Saints): Roschon Johnson, RB (Texas) (signed)
Round 4, No. 133 (from Eagles): Tyler Scott, WR (Cincinnati) (signed)
Round 5, No. 148 (from Patriots through Ravens): Noah Sewell, LB (Oregon) (signed)
Round 5, No. 165 (from Saints through Eagles): Terell Smith, CB (Minnesota) (signed)
Round 7, No. 218: Travis Bell, DT (Kennesaw State) (signed)
Round 7, No. 258: Kendall Williamson, S (Stanford) (signed)
Cincinnati Bengals
Round 1, No. 28: Myles Murphy, DE (Clemson) (signed)
Round 2, No. 60: DJ Turner, CB (Michigan) (signed)
Round 3, No. 95 (from Chiefs): Jordan Battle, S (Alabama) (signed)
Round 4, No. 131: Charlie Jones, WR (Purdue) (signed)
Round 5, No. 163: Chase Brown, RB (Illinois) (signed)
Round 6, No. 206: Andrei Iosivas, WR (Princeton) (signed)
Round 6, No. 217 (from Chiefs): Brad Robbins, P (Michigan) (signed)
Round 7, No. 246: DJ Ivey, CB (Miami) (signed)
Cowboys Trade For No. 178, Pick CB CB Eric Scott Jr.
The Cowboys have made a move to get atop the sixth round. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter), Dallas has acquired pick No. 178 from Kansas City. In exchange, the Chiefs got a 2024 fifth-round pick.
The pick proved to be one of the more well-traveled selections in the 2023 draft. The selection was initially a Bears pick that was sent to the Dolphins in the Jakeem Grant trade. Miami later traded the pick to Kansas City in the Tyreek Hill deal, and then the Chiefs finally sent off the pick to Dallas.
The Cowboys have used their acquired pick to select Southern Mississippi cornerback CB Eric Scott Jr..
The defensive back got into 31 games for Southern Miss over the past three seasons, collecting five interceptions. That included a 2022 campaign where he compiled 27 tackles and a pair of pick-sixes. His play-making ability should afford him a good look in the Cowboys secondary.
Cowboys Select DT Mazi Smith At No. 26
The Cowboys are using their first-round pick to shore up their defensive line. With the No. 26 pick, Dallas has selected Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
With the way the draft board was shaking out, many assumed the Cowboys may use their first-round selection on a tight end to replace Dalton Schultz. However, the Bills traded up ahead of Dallas to select Dalton Kincaid, and while Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer was still on the board, the Cowboys opted to take a defender instead.
They ultimately landed on Smith, who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors following a 2022 campaign that saw him compile 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a half-sack. Thanks to his performance, the prospect was certain to hear his name called during one of the first two rounds, with scouts loving his size and quickness but raising an eyebrow at his consistency.
Ultimately, this will be an upside pick for Dallas, and the team has plenty of defensive line depth to bring Smith along slowly. It’ll be interesting to see whether the rookie settles in as a defensive tackle or nose tackle, but for the time being, he’ll find himself in the mix with the recently re-signed Johnathan Hankins and rookie-contract presence Osa Odighizuwa on the Dallas D-tackle depth chart.
Cowboys Planning Medium-Term Tony Pollard Extension
The Cowboys are not planning for this to be a “prove it” year for Tony Pollard. They are aiming to sign their franchise-tagged player to an extension. And the team is not planning to make that contract as long as Ezekiel Elliott‘s.
Although the Cowboys traditionally prefer extensions of at least five years, executive VP Stephen Jones said (via ESPN.com’s Ed Werder) the team is eyeing a three- to four-year deal for Pollard. This would essentially cover the remainder of the fifth-year veteran’s prime.
Last year, the Cowboys and Dalton Schultz could not work out an agreement. The Cowboys made offers to the tight end, but the veteran pass catcher wanted a shorter-term deal compared to what Dallas was offering. In recent offseasons, the Cowboys also gave lengthy contracts to Elliott (six years), Zack Martin (six years), Jaylon Smith (six years), DeMarcus Lawrence (five years), La’el Collins (five years), Amari Cooper (five years) and Michael Gallup (five years). Tyron Smith remains attached to the eight-year extension he signed back in 2014; that is the longest-running active NFL deal. The team bent for Dak Prescott (four years, $160MM), but that player-friendly re-up came as the quarterback held the leverage of a second franchise tag going on Dallas’ books.
Pollard upstaged Elliott last season and became the team’s backfield priority this year, leading to the $10.1MM franchise tag — which the former fourth-round pick has signed — and ensuing Elliott release. Pollard has surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of the past two seasons; he earned Pro Bowl acclaim for his 1,378-yard, 12-touchdown slate. A three-year deal would match Nick Chubb‘s; the other backs signed to eight-figure-per-year contracts are attached to four- or five-year deals.
Pollard’s season ended with a fractured fibula and high ankle sprain. This is not expected to impact Pollard’s Week 1 availability, and the Cowboys’ second-half struggles without their top back in San Francisco helped illustrate the value the Memphis product brings. That said, the team has been linked to Texas product Bijan Robinson at No. 26 overall. It would be borderline shocking if Robinson fell that far, but the Cowboys did take CeeDee Lamb with their 2020 first-round pick despite having Cooper and Gallup rostered.
Joining Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs as backs tagged this year, Pollard differs in being under contract. His $10.1MM salary is guaranteed. The Cowboys gave Elliott a market-topping contract just before the 2019 season; Pollard, 25, should not be expected to land such a pact. But his signing the franchise tender may signal his negotiations will not be as difficult as the Barkley and Jacobs talks look set to become.
Packers, Cowboys Eyeing TE Michael Mayer?
The 2023 wide receiver class is relatively lacking compared to recent drafts, but this year will provide teams with a number of high-end options at the tight end position. One of the top prospects is being connected to a few different teams in the first round order. 
Michael Mayer is widely seen as the most well-rounded tight end in this year’s celebrated class. The Notre Dame product had high-end production in each of the past two seasons in particular, totaling 138 catches, 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns. Over that time, he also demonstrated a strong run blocking ability, setting him apart from other seam-stretchers who were primarily tasked with playing a role in the passing game. Mayer was named a consensus All-American in 2022.
That has earned him interest from several teams in the pre-draft process, and led to the expectation that he will be a first-round lock. The Packers have frequently been connected to a pass-catcher of some kind with their top pick – which now sits at No. 13. Selecting a tight end could put them in consideration for Utah alum Dalton Kincaid, but SI’s Albert Breer notes that Green Bay has most often been named as a team interested in adding Mayer. The latter is likely to have a more immediate impact in the NFL given his skillset, something which could be of particular benefit for an offense transitioning to Jordan Love under center.
Should Mayer slide into the 20s on Thursday, he can still be considered a lock to hear his name called that night. Veteran NFL reporter Mike Giardi tweets that the Cowboys are high on the former Fighting Irishman, and Dallas represents his floor. The Cowboys own the No. 26 pick, and have a need at the TE spot after losing Dalton Schultz in free agency. Kincaid may represent a more direct comparison for Schultz, but Dallas has ton “a ton of work” on Mayer, per Giardi.
A number of other tight ends beyond Mayer and Kincaid are projected to be drafted on Day 2 and make a considerable impact, meaning Green Bay and Dallas will both have secondary options to choose from. It would appear their preference, however, would be to acquire Mayer on Thursday as part of their offensive re-tooling.