Anonymous NFL scout exposes Dallas Cowboys weakness that has put Jake Ferguson on opponents’ radar
It’s not great for opponents to know about your biggest weakness, and that’s something Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson will have to overcome in 2026.
Jake Ferguson is one of the most mysterious players on the Dallas Cowboys roster going into the 2026 NFL season. The reason why is simple. After a breakout season in 2023, Ferguson hasn’t quite taken the next steps expected of him.
In 2025, following a $52 million contract extension, Ferguson remained a reliable pass-catcher and a dangerous red zone target. However, the Cowboys tight end ranked 31st in EPA per target among tight ends and 33rd in yards per route run. Going into 2026, he must bounce back, which is weird to say about a player with eight touchdowns the previous season.
If he is to bounce back, however, he must clean up one are of his game that has NFL teams game planning to exploit him. Let’s dive in.
Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson has a problem to fix
ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler does a great job compiling the votes of anonymous NFL scouts, coaches, and executives to rank the Top 10 players at each position group. Though Ferguson missed the cut (he got an honorable mention), Fowler had a great nugget from a scout in the NFC.
“(Ferguson is) really solid all around, high catch volume, tough, competes in the run game,” the scout said. “His problem is fumbling. We targeted trying to get the ball loose when we played him.”
In the last two seasons, Ferguson has seven fumbles, including three in 2025. To hear opposing teams have identified it as a weakness to the point of zeroing in on him isn’t a good sign. The weirdest part is fumbling was a non-issue for Ferguson early in his career.
In 90 catches in his first couple of seasons, Ferguson fumbled the ball zero times. Why is it seven in 141 catches since 2024? I went and took a quick glance at two fumble losses against NFC opponents in 2025. Honestly, it looks like simply poor fundamentals as a ball-carrier from Ferguson.
Arizona Cardinals DB Budda Baker goes for the “peanut punch” in Week 9 and manages to force the fumble while Ferguson runs at full speed on third-and-17. In Week 14, with Ferguson wrapped up by a cornerback, Detroit Lions LB Jack Campbell strips the football before the tight end is down.
Surely, this was already on Ferguson’s offseason priorities and I have little to no doubt he’ll take care of it. If not, it should be now.
Ferguson 2026 outlook
The Cowboys signed Ferguson to a $52 million extension because they believe in him as a reliable target. There’s no question he will be TE1 all season long. At minimum, he should remain a strong red zone option for QB Dak Prescott and a reliable blocker.
Ideally, however, Ferguson channels the inner YAC monster he was in 2023. That and more explosive catches down the seam should have him back in the Top 10 next offseason. But it all starts with taking care of the football.