The year is 2023. The month is November.

We are nearing the end of the regular season in the NFL and Dallas Cowboys fans are faced with an all-too-familiar sight: another season of disappointment from their rookie second-round pick.

The Dallas Cowboys made Luke Schoonmaker the 58th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Since his selection, he has seen the field for 207 snaps over the course of nine games. He's played in the majority of a game just once and his best, single-game PFF grade is a mere 61.4, with two going as low as the 30's – twice. 

In terms of production, he has just three receptions for 14 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. He's currently on pace to finish with less production than 2022 fourth-round rookie, Jake Ferguson, recorded last year. Now I'm not sure about you, but to me. that doesn't sound like a good draft pick, right now.

Cowboys have not done well picking in the second round, lately

In fact, when we look at the second round all together, the Cowboys don't have too great of a track record. 

Since 2016, the selections have been: Jaylon Smith, Chidobe Awuzie, Connor Williams, Trysten Hill, Trevon Diggs, Kelvin Joseph, Sam Williams, and now, Schoonmaker.

That's a 1/7 (not including Schoonmaker) hit ratio, although, I do want to recognize Sam Williams is playing better so the jury is still out on him. 

That's obviously not great. Fortunately, the Cowboys have a much better draft record with players selected in the first round.

So here is my proposition. Trade two seconds every other year. One from this year and one from the next and move back up into the first round. 

You should be able to sneak back into the first round, and with the Cowboys track record they are likely not to screw it up!

Or trade for an established veteran at a position of need.

You just got Stephon Gilmore for a fourth-round pick and he has had a huge impact on the team. Imagine who you could get for a second-round pick.

Since we are giving Sam Williams the benefit of the doubt, I will say it is too early to regard Schoonmaker as a complete bust. And when adding in the fact that rookie tight ends often take multiple seasons to develop, it's easy to see why 2023 shouldn't define Schoonmaker.

However, when looking at what the other second-round tight ends in Sam LaPorta and Luke Musgrave are doing, it certainly makes one wonder what exactly is holding Schoonmaker back.