Luke Schoonmaker  |  Michigan 6’5” 251 lbs.  |  09/28/1998 (24)

Luke Schoonmaker was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, becoming the fifth Tight End and 58th overall player in the 2023 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE PRODUCTION

Luke Schoonmaker took a redshirt year in 2018, as he only appeared in one game. In 2019, he played in 11 games as a reserve and made two catches for 54 yards and one TD that season. He was a back-up player again the following campaign, and appeared in six games but did not record any receiving statistics. Schoonmaker started 10 of the 14 games he played in 2021, recording 17 receptions for 165 yards and scoring three TDs. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference honors that season. He 

Last season, Schoomnaker was a third-team pick, starting 11 of 12 games played and posting 35 catches for 418 yards and three TDs while missing two games due to injury.

FILM

At the college level, Schoonmaker displayed a versatile combination of run-blocking acumen and receiving ability. He is capable of performing a variety of blocking and route running tasks in from any type of formation or alignment. Schoonmaker, at age 24, is a more polished product than many other players entering the league in his draft class, and he enters Dallas ready to compete for playing time immediately. He displays veteran savvy, influencing defenders, and is capable of moving them once engaged in the run game. Schoonmaker is an underrated athlete who was not appropriately utilized at Michigan. He has enough talent to run a pretty full route tree, but there are some areas he needs to refine in the receiving game, particularly at the catch-point. 

ATHLETIC TESTING

Luke Schoonmaker ran a solid 4.63 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, with a 10-yard split of 1.59, which are impressive numbers at 6’5” and 251 lbs. His vertical jump was 33.5” and his broad jump was explosive for his size, registering a 10’7”. He opted out of the three-cone drill and bench press, but he ran a respectable shuttle time of 4.27.

DRAFT ANALYSIS 

Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Good

Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Excellent

Luke Schoonmaker was selected with the 58th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. 

FANTASY INSIGHTS

While many believe Schoonmaker was brought in to block and that 2022 rookie Jake Ferguson is a more athletic receiving option for the Cowboys, that is a fallacy. Schoonmaker and Ferguson are identical in size, and while admittedly, Schoonmaker is a much more capable blocker, he also ran a 4.63 40-yard dash to Ferguson’s 4.81, a well as a 4.27 shuttle to Ferguson’s 4.48.  Additionally, Schoonmaker outjumped him by a foot in the broad jump and two inches in the vertical. As athletes, while Schoonmaker is older, he is also the superior option. These two TEs should work in tandem with one another to provide a solid TE unit that also boasts flashy 2022 rookie Peyton Hendershot. While Schoonmaker should be on the field more than the other two guys, they will all effectively eat away at one another’s targets, similar to what we saw in Seattle last season. Your author could see Ferguson and Schoonmaker post 400 yards a piece in what is believed to be a potent Cowboy passing attack in 2023. 

Schoonmaker’s situation and draft capital are inexplicably being ignored by fantasy analysts in the community. He should be viewed as a late-second to early-third-round selection in dynasty rookie drafts. Schoonmaker is your author’s rookie TE5 currently, closely behind Luke Musgrave. He should provide immediate production in his rookie year, but he doesn’t have top-10 potential in the near future. He is an excellent late grab in start 2TE leagues.  

Thank you for tuning in to DFF’s 2023 NFL Draft Coverage! Stay tuned as we break down every fantasy-relevant pick during the draft. Please consider becoming our yearly DFF subscription so we can deliver top-notch analysis and fantasy breakdowns. Only $1.67 per month ($19.99 per year) gets you our 105-page dynasty rookie draft guide, access to the DFF Discord for free personalized dynasty team advice, hundreds of dynasty articles and so much more…

I appreciate your time! If you enjoyed this piece, you can find more of my work and countless other quality reads and content offered here at Dynasty Football Factory. Also, you can interact with me on Twitter at @DocFFFN. #DFFArmy #FantasyFootball #AlwaysBeBuilding #NFL #NFLDraft #NFLTransactions #NFLTrades #AlwaysBeScouting #PlantYourFlag