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Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy: Luke Schoonmaker is 'well-rounded,' a 'starter type'

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•04/30/23•

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Luke Schoonmaker
(Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Michigan Wolverines football standout Luke Schoonmaker was one of nine tight ends drafted in the first three rounds — the most in 56 years — going to the Dallas Cowboys No. 58 overall in the second round. He was projected as a third-to-fourth-round selection prior to the event but went surprisingly high.

The Cowboys, who also picked Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith No. 26 in the first round, feel Schoonmaker will make an impact right away.

“This is an excellent tight end class, but I think they all have specific skills that they bring to the table,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said. “And what I really liked about Luke is he’s very, very well-rounded.”

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The Michigan tight end will be able to do everything asked of a Dallas player at that position, McCarthy continued.

“We like everything about him — his physical traits,” McCarthy said. “He has the ability to play the ‘Y’ position off the ball. He’s done the insert seams — keeping the tackle and the ends and inserting him on the linebackers. He runs better than probably we give him credit for. His vertical presence, we think we can really build off of that. Really, really well-rounded, and that’s what you’re looking for.

“As a play caller and game plan designer, these tight ends give you the chance to get them on different personnel groups and stay creative.”

Dallas lost Dalton Schultz, now a Houston Texan, in free agency this offseason. Schoonmaker will compete alongside Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot. The Cowboys use their tight ends quite a bit, too, so there will be opportunity for all three. Former Michigan tight end Sean McKeon is also on the team. The organization ranked eighth in the NFL with 130 tight end targets last season, per FantasyPros.com.

McCarthy was asked if he views Schoonmaker as a “starter,” and while he didn’t give a definite answer about his status right away, he believes that he’s in the conversation.

“The biggest thing when you talk about the tight end position — define a ‘starter.’ Is it 40-plus plays a game, is it 30?” McCarthy replied. “A 17-game season, all these guys in a tight end room are going to contribute. But I would definitely view him as a starter type, as far as his impact. I know he will clearly play all four positions in the tight end area — on the line, off the ball, lead back and displaced.”

Added McCarthy: “I’ve always felt between tight ends and linebacker body types, those are the guys that can play four downs. You can’t have enough of them on your football team.”

Being versatile, as McCarthy mentioned, is a product of playing at Michigan, in part. In addition to being an in-line tight end, Schoonmaker played 56 passing snaps out of the slot and 12 as a wide receiver last season. He pass blocked on 18 occasions, too.

“He’s got the vertical speed,” McCarthy pointed out. “He’s played in a pro-style offense. You can see his ability to run the, we call it a B-line post, the seam routes. There’s not going to be a whole lot that he hasn’t done that we’ll ask him to do.”

Schoonmaker, a 6-foot-5, 251-pounder, ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, fifth among tight ends. His 10’7″ broad jump slotted second in his position group and his 4.27-second 20-yard shuttle checked in fourth. For Michigan in 2022, Schoonmaker played in 12 games with 11 starts, ranking second on the team with 35 receptions and third with 418 receiving yards. He was also third with 3 touchdown grabs.

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