2 Surprising & Disappointing Players for the Cowboys in 2023
With the season gone, I’m still disappointed with the outcome, as are most people. It’s becoming more of a reality than a surprise at this point.
Nonetheless, this team’s players continue to amaze and disappoint me in 2023. Let’s see if you agree with two of the players I suggested from both.
Biggest surprises
Jake Fergusson was the biggest surprise to me in 2023.
Dalton Shultz signed with the Texans last summer, leaving the Cowboys without one of Dak Prescott’s preferred targets.
He finished the season with 71 receptions, 761 yards, and five touchdowns. Ferg has yet to fumble in his two seasons with the squad.
He appeared in over 75% of offensive plays this season, which sounds perfect, but much of that was spent blocking.
Although the postseason game against the Packers was a blowout, he led the club with 10 receptions for 93 yards and three touchdowns.
His effort made him only the third tight end in Cowboys franchise history to have double-digit receptions in a playoff game, trailing Jay Novacek and Jason Witten.
Brandon Aubrey was my second-biggest surprise.
If you had told me that this guy would be great until the end of the season, I would have thought you were crazy.
Aubrey was on the verge of surpassing the record for most consecutive field goals made by a kicker before an attempt was stopped by Washington in Week 18.
Nonetheless, he will hold the NFL record for most field goals kicked without a miss to begin an NFL career at the age of 35. Aubrey broke the previous record by 17 kicks, breaking former Cleveland Browns kicker Travis Coons’ total of 18 set in 2015.
The Cowboys’ All-Pro kicker will be a bright point entering next season.
Biggest disappointments
Michael Gallup was the biggest disappointment for me in 2023.
This is the player the organization elected to sign to a five-year, $62.5 million contract while trading Amari Cooper for a fifth-round selection.
Gallup completed 2023 with 34 catches for 418 yards. He had favorable matchups all season, trailing CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks.
This was the worst contract Dallas has signed in recent memory. It’s a waste of almost $60 million. I’d cut him this offseason and choose a younger, cheaper wide receiver.
I’ll be honest here, and some may not like it.
