Dallas Cowboys' recent no-brainer signing adds mystery to one of the team's most intriguing positions
For the untrained eye, the Dallas Cowboys signing tight ends coach Lunda Wells to a contract extension might not seem like much. Just another position coach on board of Brian Schottenheimer's first staff as head coach. But in reality, it's a big move. Wells is one of the best position coaches in the NFL and has […]
For the untrained eye, the Dallas Cowboys signing tight ends coach Lunda Wells to a contract extension might not seem like much. Just another position coach on board of Brian Schottenheimer's first staff as head coach.
But in reality, it's a big move. Wells is one of the best position coaches in the NFL and has been very impactful since joining the Cowboys in 2020. In that span, Wells has supervised Jake Ferguson's development, who turned heads even as a fourth-round rookie before evolving into one of the team's top weapons.
When Kellen Moore was still offensive coordinator in 2022, Well's group become a highly important unit, constantly seeing the field three or even four players at a time. Dalton Schultz, Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot, and Sean McKeon were self-proclaimed the Four Horsemen after being so involved in the offensive game plan.
One year later, Ferguson put on a show and the team didn't skip a bit with Schultz's free agency departure in 2023. That same season, Wells had John Stephens Jr. ready for a 53-man roster spot as an undrafted rookie. Unfortunately, a season-ending injury derailed such plans but in 2024, it was another UDFA stepping up big time: Brevyn Spann-Ford.
Though it's true question Luke Schoonmaker has yet to live up to his second-round draft pick expectations, he's progressed since his rookie year.
Wells being back adds further mystery into the intriguing group going into the 2025 season.
After all, it's a high-stakes year for the tight ends. Ferguson had a down year after enduring injuries early in the season. Entering a contract year, he'll simply have to do more to prove himself worthy of the contract extension fans thought was coming following his second year in the NFL. He didn't take the "next step" that was expected of him as a third-year player. But he can still do so in his fourth.
Schoonmaker, meanwhile, is doing his best to fend off the advances of the label many NFL players fear: "draft bust." So far, his resumé isn't what many would want out of a second-rounder, even less so when compared to some of his peers selected in the same year: Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta, Tucker Kraft, and others.
If it's going to happen for Schoonmaker, it's gotta be now.
Additionally, Spann-Ford and a healthy Stephens Jr. could eat into his playing time. All in all, albeit largely unproven, this will be a fun position to watch in 2025. Expect intense training camp battles and an important year for Ferguson. Getting Wells back was a no-brainer: He'll give them the best chance to succeed
