The NFL had another huge trade go down on Monday when the Dolphins shipped star cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the Steelers. A lot of Dallas Cowboys fans wanted the team to pursue Ramsey, but his contract was always a big sticking point.
While the Cowboys still have major question marks at cornerback, they can play a role in the Ramsey fallout. The Dolphins are already having conversations with "multiple teams" about acquiring a tight end, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
While it remains to be seen what caliber of TE Miami is looking for, the Cowboys have a surplus of serviceable tight ends on the roster, including third-year man Luke Schoonmaker.
Cowboys should see if the Dolphins are interested in Luke Schoonmaker
The Dolphins' tight end room is in absolute shambles without Smith, whom they did not want to pay following a breakout year in 2024. Schoonmaker is under contract through the 2026 season and will account for cap hits of $1.7 million and $1.9 million, respectively, over the next two years.
They clearly want to get younger (and cheaper) at the position. Not only does Schoonmaker check those boxes, but his role in Dallas is murky amid the emergence of second-year pro Brevyn Spann-Ford, who was among the biggest winners from offseason workouts and seems primed for a bigger role.
The Cowboys gave Spann-Ford a $225,000 salary with a $20,000 signing bonus as a priority free agent following the 2024 draft. They're clearly bullish on his potential and all signs from OTAs and minicamp suggest he has made strides as a pass-catcher, which was his biggest weakness coming out of Minnesota.
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It is very possible that Spann-Ford beats out Schoonmaker for the TE2 job behind incumbent starter Jake Ferguson.
While Schoonmaker played well in an increased role when Ferguson was hurt last season, it's hard to envision a consistent role for him if everyone is healthy. The 2023 second-round pick might need a fresh start to realize his full potential. It is hard to think of a better landing spot than Miami, whose current TE1 is 31-year-old Pharaoh Brown.
More known for his blocking prowess, Brown has 72 career receptions in seven seasons. There is an enormous opening for targets in the Dolphins offense without Smith, who was targeted 111 times and caught 88 passes last season.
This might be Dallas' last best chance to cash in on Schoonmaker, who was clearly overdrafted at No. 58 two years ago and would benefit from a change of scenery.
