3 Cowboys rookies who already look like starters in training camp

2. Luke Schoonmaker

Dalton Schultz’s decision to take his talents to the Texans was a clear blow to Dallas’ offense this offseason. The Cowboys elected to fill his spot on the depth chart by spending a second-round draft pick on former Michigan standout Luke Schoonmaker.

Interestingly, Jones and his front office elected to choose a player who shares a lot of stylistic similarities with Schultz to replace him. Schoonmaker has a big body that should make him a reliable short and intermediate target for Dak Prescott, but like Schultz, he lacks the quick twitch athleticism required to threaten opposing secondaries on deep routes.

Schoonmaker’s size does give him a chance to develop into an above-average blocker for the run game. That’s the aspect of his game that will need to come along quickly if he’s going to overtake Jake Ferguson to become the team’s top option at tight end.

Schoonmaker is going to end up as the team’s long-term starter at tight end and it should not take him too long to supplant Ferguson during his rookie campaign. He may never be a star, but he has a relatively high floor as a prospect. The Cowboys invested a high pick in his services and they will give him every chance to earn an immediate starting role as a result.