Former Michigan tight end Luke Schoonmaker wasn't very productive in his five-year collegiate career, but the 6'5", 250-pound prospect impressed with his athleticism at the 2023 NFL Combine, catapulting him into the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Chasing athleticism over raw production at the tight end position has become popular, so Dallas felt comfortable taking the 24-year-old with the 58th overall pick. Dallas has a wide open tight end room, so he could have fantasy relevance early in his career.
Is Schoonmaker a good fit for the Cowboys and what can we expect from him as a rookie in fantasy football? Let's dive in.
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What Did Luke Schoonmaker Accomplish At Michigan?
In 43 games over five seasons, Schoonmaker caught just 54 passes for 637 yards and seven touchdowns. His career can't be called productive, but Michigan pass-catchers often struggle to command volume in a run-heavy attack. Either way, he was a solid red zone target and his athleticism proved to make a difference when the draft rolled around.
He posted a solid 4.63 forty-yard dash and a well above average 20-yard split, 10-yard split, shuttle, and broad jump. His 33.5-inch vertical leap was adequate, but not elite. He did well enough to be the fifth tight end drafted in his class, only behind Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta, Michael Mayer, and Luke Musgrave.
Is Luke Schoonmaker A Good Fit For The Cowboys?
Like Kincaid and LaPorta, Schoonmaker landed in one of the league's best passing offenses. Dalton Schultz is now in Houston with the Texans, so Schoonmaker's competition for playing time consists of former fourth-rounder Jake Ferguson and the undrafted tight end Peyton Hendershot. Schoonmaker carries the highest draft capital and is by far the best athlete of the bunch, so he has a chance to command the starting role in Dallas as soon as his rookie season.
All that said, it often takes time for tight ends to develop, but Schoonmaker will turn 25 during his rookie campaign, so perhaps he's ready to make an impact sooner than later.
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