28-05-2025
Tight end hopeful has oozed potential, but currently invoking dreaded Rico Gathers comp
Tight end hopeful has oozed potential, but currently invoking dreaded Rico Gathers comp
For years a man by the name of Rico Gathers captivated the Dallas Cowboys fanbase, offering up daydreams of what might be, if only this man could one day fulfill his vast potential. Gathers, a 6-foot-6, 281-pound tight end, lasted roughly three seasons in Dallas. Even though he only actually produced 45 yards in on-field production, Gathers dominated summer storylines, teasing team, analysts and fanbase alike.
Recently, another highly skilled pass catcher has similarly caught an abnormal amount of media attention in Dallas. John Stephens, Jr. has been an intriguing tight end/receiver prospect who has ferociously teased fans with his impressive ceiling as a pass catcher the past two seasons.
At 6-foot-5, 221-pounds, Stephens isn't an obvious fit as an inline TE, but at the same time he's an awkward size to be a WR as well. Best categorized as a big slot or a split TE, Stephens is a mismatch nightmare for opposing coverages and potentially an under-the-radar weapon for an offense hoping to be deceptive and less transparent in their pre-snap looks.
At present time, Stephens' hype is near an all-time low. Back-to-back ACL tears to his left knee have ended the past two seasons prematurely. His ability to bounce back in time for training camp will dictate whether the hype train continues on for one more summer, or fades away like Gathers once did.
The Cowboys' TE corps is three-deep, but far from a sure thing. Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker are all but assured roster spots in 2025 but behind them things are less secured. Brevyn Spann-Ford is a tantalizing developmental option at TE3 given his size (6-foot-7, 270-pounds) and usage (305 offensive snaps last season), but even he's going to have to sing for his supper in 2025.
If Stephens can get back on the field and turn those various highlights into a more consistent product, he could work his way onto the roster in 2025. The Cowboys could keep as many as four TEs in 2025 so even if passing Spann-Ford is a longshot, making the roster is a perfectly realistic outcome.
Then again, two knee injuries are tough to overcome and the Cowboys can't afford to get intoxicated by the dreams of what he might be when each day that goes by makes that seem fantasy. Ready or not, it's put up or shut up time for Stephens in Dallas. The Cowboys would love another large weapon to deploy on offense, but Stephens has to be ready to contribute because the clock has nearly struck midnight.
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