OXNARD, Calif. — When it comes to tight ends, the Cowboys tied up a very sizable loose end. Jake Ferguson is all smiles as padded practices get underway for training camp, and there’s plenty of reasons for it — roughly $52 million of them, considering that’s the max value of his shiny new multi-year contract extension landed in the early hours ahead of Dallas’ Blue-White Practice.
He is now the highest-paid tight end in franchise history.
It’s a deal that officially, and for some time to come, coronates Ferguson as the definitive TE1 in Dallas, as he works to get back to Pro Bowl form in 2025.
“I wasn’t really focused on [the contract],” said the 26-year-old. ” … [But] it’s an honor. … I can not thank [the Cowboys] enough for believing in me. I’m really thankful and excited to get going.”
Ferguson successfully supplanted his predecessor Dalton Schultz and has now done was the latter was unable to achieve in Dallas — secure a long-term deal — identifying the fiery young tight end the true successor to Jason Witten.
But, as he readily admitted following the signing, it’ll take more than a contract to truly earn that honor; and that’s a key reason he participates in performance-drivers like “Tight End University”, hosted by George Kittle, Travis Kelce and Greg Olsen, in the offseason.
“It’s money, but it doesn’t change things,” Ferguson said. “I still have to get out there and prove, and work my tail off. … I don’t wanna be anywhere else. It’s a privilege to wear this Star.”
The grandson of famed former collegiate coach Barry Alvarez, Ferguson is a playmaker, yes, but also a hard-nosed, old-school type of player whose aura resonates throughout the locker room.
As one of the favorite targets for All-Pro quarterback Dak Prescott, he stands to play a massive role in what Brian Schottenheimer has planned for the offense after taking over duties as playcaller and head coach this offseason.
The former fourth-round pick is just one year removed from a career season that saw him reel in 71 receptions on 102 targets for a total of 761 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He battled injury that cost him games in 2024, for the first time in his NFL career, and struggled to find consistency with Cooper Rush at quarterback in the absence of an injured Dak Prescott.
With his All-Pro quarterback at the helm again, Schottenheimer sees a bright future for Ferguson in Dallas’ offensive plans.
As does tight ends coach Lunda Wells, who has coached Ferguson since his rookie season in 2022 and, thanks to Wells signing his own extension this offseason to remain with the Cowboys going forward, the two shall not part in the years to come.
“It’s always good to see your guys get what they deserve,” said Wells. “It’s really good to get done so it’s also not on his mind, and we can just go play ball. He’s done a phenomenal job, and everything we’ve asked him to do. Had a rough year last year, but to see him continue to grow and get this opportunity is good for him.
“I’m happy for him and for the organization to have someone of his caliber — his leadership that he shows on and off the field. He’s locked in.”
It’s impossible to overstate the significance of the relationship between Ferguson and Wells, a true dynamic of tough love and friendship that combines to help both excel in their respective craft, with and for each other.
“He demands it, and I demand it from myself, and when we put our two heads together, it’s a hard force to start,” Ferguson said of Wells. “He’s awesome. There’s coaches out here in the NFL that’s just out there to coach between the white lines. Lunda does stuff outside of that. He comes over and chills at the house. We had a conversation in my backyard for two hours, one time, just talking about life.
“That helped me tremendously. That’s been going on for four years. It hasn’t just been now or just because there’s been a contract [negotiation]. It’s been [all] four years, and with the whole [tight ends room].”
And you can bet, similarly to how the presence of Ferguson helped to grease the wheels for Wells to choose the Cowboys this offseason, that Wells’ presence returned the favor when it came time for the team’s front office to begin their contract talks with Ferguson.
“I’m sure it did,” said Ferguson, grinning.
Wells can’t express enough just how much he loves Ferguson as a player and a human being, but also in how he has no plans on taking it easy on him, contract extension or not.
“I always tell guys it’s a collaborative mindset — coach to player and player to coach — to have that connection where we know each other inside-out, on the field and off the field,” Wells said. “We’ve just got to keep building. This is just the beginning. We’ve got a lot of work to do and a lot of growth to still achieve.
“In our minds, this is something to continue to build on. To whom much is given, much is required. … I want him to be consistent, like he was two years ago, with his play.”
For his part, Schottenheimer agrees, and also sees a bounceback year in play for the franchise tight end.
“The things he’s done for us, from a play temperament, the enforcer that he is — he loves football, he’s got that throwback-type mentality. I’m just really, really excited for him
“What we expect is the Fergy we had two years ago: the big play guy down for us in the red zone, the contested catches and the guy Dak can trust. … We expect Fergy to have a terrific season.”
The team’s front office made it very clear it was working not only on trying to secure all-world pass rusher Micah Parsons on a new deal, but also several other candidates.
With Ferguson’s contract extension now in tow, applying roughly $1.8 million in savings toward this year’s salary cap, other likely extensions could include All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith and/or All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland.
Ferguson, who looks refreshed and back to top form as he and Prescott reestablish their connection in camp practices, couldn’t be more pleased to know his future with the Cowboys is secured through at least the 2029 season.
“I didn’t want to be anywhere else,” he said.
“We want to know we have Jake for the rest of his career,” said owner and general manager Jerry Jones.
Needless to say, this is a huge step in that direction.
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