Sorting through the Cowboys' tight end options

I think the best way to start this conversation is to remind people that some of the most ridiculous heated debates that ever exist in the NFL world happen in the last few weeks of August, when word begins to circulate that our collective “pet cats” won’t make the team. The two players who ranked ahead of him on last year’s depth chart are gone, so you can believe that even though he would not be a great fantasy play, the Cowboys plan on him playing a couple hundred snaps of real football and a couple hundred more on special teams. Gathers’ second training camp in 2017 came with a “here we go” mentality, whereas his third training camp carries the sense that “this may never happen.” Yes, there was a concussion along with jaw/neck issues. Here are the special teams snaps for the four tight ends through two games: Wk 1 Wk 2 Total R Gathers 0 2 2 B Jarwin 9 10 19 D Schultz 14 10 24 G Swaim 3 7 10 Again, keep in mind that Swaim is already on the squad. Here are some interesting numbers from the four players according to DraftMockable.com – since Gathers didn’t go to the combine, we used his pro-day numbers: Age Height Weight 10 yd – 40 yd Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press Gathers 24.6 6’6 285 1.71 – 4.79 115″ NA NA Jarwin 24.1 6’5 260 1.58 – 4.73 121″ 34.5″ 21 Schultz 22 6’5 255 1.64 – 4.75 120″ 32″ 15 Swaim 24.9 6’4 260 1.66 – 4.71 124″ 35.5″ NA There is no doubt Gathers can do some amazing things – including rebound the basketball better than any Baylor Bear ever, but you might be interested to see that he would finish in fourth place in a 40-yard dash and fourth in a broad jump competition amongst the four tight ends.