Dallas City News

As the Cowboys’ 2024 roster is being projected throughout the offseason, Peyton Hendershot’s name isn’t appearing on many lists. The third-year tight end seems to have fallen behind other prospects in Dallas, but he enters the position battle with a key advantage over his competition.

Hendershot is one of several contenders for the third TE on the depth chart this season. With an assumed top-two of Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker, barring injuries, the battle for the last spot or two will include John Stephens Jr., a hot name after last year’s camp and preseason, and some other undrafted rookies from recent years. One of them, Brevyn Spann-Ford out of Minnesota, is a massive yet agile player who’s already become a “pet cat” for many in Cowboys Nation.

Fans are rightfully intrigued about what a guy like Stephens, a 6’5” converted WR with high potential as a big, athletic target, can do. The curiosity around Spann-Ford is only natural when you see he’s listed at 6’7” and 270 lbs. You can’t teach size and if these guys can back it up with their game, they could be exciting additions to the Cowboys’ offense.

But while nothing about him leaps off the page, Hendershot has been around for two years and looked like a budding playmaker not long ago. He scored three touchdowns as a rookie; two as a receiver and one as a surprise runner in a short-yardage situation. An ankle injury knocked him out of nine games last season and he didn’t get the same opportunities when healthy with Ferguson and Schoonmaker, plus FB Hunter Luepke, in the mix.

Hendershot plays with an edge and will need every bit of it this summer as he fights off Stephen, Spann-Ford, and anyone else coming for his roster spot. Some have argued that he wouldn’t have made last year’s team if Stephens hadn’t suffered a preseason injury, and that’s certainly possible. But with Hendershot entering his third year, and nobody else having a regular-season snap, the experience edge could help him in what’s sure to be a tight competition.

As happens so often during the offseason, the shiny, newer toys are getting attention and creating the perception of momentum. But for guys like Peyton Hendershot, who have been around a bit and know what’s coming, they can hit the ground running at training camp and retake it quickly. He’ll need to have improved on his game, particularly as a blocker, but don’t be quick to dismiss Hendershot’s chances at returning to his spot on the Cowboys’ TE depth chart.