Player
Jake Ferguson
TE · Cowboys
Ferguson's rise from deep-draft afterthought to the Cowboys' primary receiving option shows how Dallas rebuilt its passing offense around a high-floor, low-ceiling possession TE.
From 4th-round rookie to Cowboys' most-targeted player in 2025.
TrendFerguson regular-season production by year
| Year | G | Tgts | Rec | Yds | TDs | Y/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 11 | 22 | 19 | 174 | 2 | 15.8 |
| 2023 | 17 | 102 | 71 | 761 | 5 | 44.8 |
| 2024 | 14 | 86 | 59 | 494 | 0 | 35.3 |
| 2025 | 17 | 102 | 82 | 600 | 8 | 35.3 |
Receptions per season
| Season | Receptions |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 19 |
| 2023 | 71 |
| 2024 | 59 |
| 2025 | 82 |
A 4th-round pick (No. 129 overall) out of Wisconsin who went from 19 catches as a rookie to 82 catches and 8 TDs in 2025 — the second-biggest receptions gain in his entire draft class behind only Trey McBride.
The yardage hasn't kept pace (600 yards on 82 catches, 7.3 Y/Rec), which tells you exactly how Dallas uses him: chain-mover, not chunk-play guy. The 2024 zero-TD season on 86 targets was a Cowboys offensive collapse — he rebounded with 8 TDs in 2025 and 102 targets for the second time in his career.
Why it matters. Ferguson's rise from deep-draft afterthought to the Cowboys' primary receiving option shows how Dallas rebuilt its passing offense around a high-floor, low-ceiling possession TE.
Inside the 10-yard line, he's automatic in 2025.
SplitFerguson red-zone targets by year
| Year | Inside 20 Tgts | Inside 10 Tgts | Inside 10 TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 | 25 | 12 | 3 |
| 2024 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 25 | 14 | 6 |
In 2025 he saw 14 targets inside the opponent's 10 and scored 6 TDs — a 43% conversion rate. For context, LaPorta posted 42% on 12 inside-10 targets in his 2023 breakout, and Pitts hit 57% on 7 in 2025.
The 2024 line is the anomaly: just 3 targets inside the 10 all season, zero TDs — Dallas barely ran red-zone plays that year. The 2025 rebound to 25 inside-20 looks and 14 inside-10 looks matches his 2023 volume, with twice the TD output.
Why it matters. A 43% TD conversion rate inside the 10 is genuine elite-TE production — it's what separates Ferguson from the mid-tier tight ends who rack up targets but vanish near the goal line.
2022 TE class: McBride is the leader. Ferguson is the only one who closes the gap.
Comparison2022 rookie TE class — career totals through 2025
| Player | Rec | Yds | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trey McBride | 347 | 3,475 | 17 |
| Jake Ferguson | 231 | 2,029 | 15 |
| Cade Otton | 207 | 2,018 | 11 |
| Chig Okonkwo | 194 | 2,017 | 8 |
| Isaiah Likely | 135 | 1,568 | 15 |
| Daniel Bellinger | 88 | 934 | 4 |
McBride was the 2nd-round pick everyone watched. Ferguson was a 4th-round pick (No. 129 overall) out of Wisconsin. Four years in, he's the class's clear #2 in receptions and yards — and tied for #1 in TDs with the more-explosive Isaiah Likely.
Ferguson, Otton, and Okonkwo are within 12 yards of each other in career receiving yards. The TD column is what separates Ferguson from that cluster.
Why it matters. Ferguson outperforming every 2022 TE except the No. 2 pick (McBride) proves the Cowboys' early commitment to him wasn't luck — he converted draft-day value into production.
Dallas leans on Ferguson early — 74% of his 2025 targets came on 1st or 2nd down.
SplitFerguson 2025 by down
| Down | Tgts | Catches | 1st Downs | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 41 | 31 | 11 | 4 |
| 2nd | 35 | 31 | 11 | 3 |
| 3rd | 23 | 18 | 8 | 0 |
| 4th | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
76 of Ferguson's 102 targets in 2025 came on 1st or 2nd down — a 74% early-down rate that places him mid-pack among volume TEs but reveals how Dallas deploys him. All 7 of his non-4th-down TDs came on 1st or 2nd down.
His 3rd-down catch rate was solid (18-of-23, 78%), but zero 3rd-down TDs signals Dallas leans on CeeDee Lamb as the move-the-chains option on obvious passing downs. Ferguson is the play-action and quick-game anchor on 1st-and-10.
Why it matters. Ferguson's heavy early-down usage means his targets are baked into the run-pass mix rather than reserved for obvious passing situations — making his volume more durable across game scripts.
A 13-catch game with zero TDs — the most catches for a Cowboys TE in a decade.
MilestoneTop single-game receiving by Ferguson
| Date | Opp | Tgts | Rec | Yds | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 W3 | vs BAL | 11 | 6 | 95 | 0 |
| 2023 W9 | vs PHI | 10 | 7 | 91 | 1 |
| 2025 W3 | vs CHI | 14 | 13 | 82 | 0 |
| 2025 W2 | vs NYG | 12 | 9 | 78 | 0 |
| 2023 W4 | vs NE | 7 | 7 | 77 | 0 |
His 2025 Week 3 vs Chicago: 13 catches on 14 targets (93%), 82 yards, 0 TDs. The 13 catches is the most by a Cowboys TE in any single regular-season game since 2015 — no Dallas TE matched it in the past decade. The 6.3 yards/catch tells you exactly how Dallas was using him: quick outlets, screen-game, drag routes.
He's only cracked 95 yards once in his career. The volume is there; the big play isn't.
Why it matters. A 13-catch game is a volume milestone that illustrates Ferguson's role as the Cowboys' security blanket — targeted at historic rates even when the offense can't push the ball down the field.
His target share held above 16% through two QB eras and an OC change.
AnomalyFerguson target share (% of team targets)
| Year | Target Share | Team Pass O |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6.3% | Moore |
| 2023 | 16.8% | Moore |
| 2024 | 17.4% | Schottenheimer |
| 2025 | 16.5% | Schottenheimer |
Ferguson broke out under Kellen Moore and maintained that share after Moore left for LAC — even with Cooper Rush starting 9 games in 2024 while Dak Prescott was injured.
From 2023 through 2025, his share has never dropped below 16.5% regardless of QB, play-caller, or win context. That's the rarest thing in the NFL: a role that survives front-office and coaching turnover.
Why it matters. Target share that persists across a QB change and an OC change signals scheme-independent value — Ferguson's role in the Dallas offense is structural, not coach-dependent.
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