Former Wisconsin Badger receives middling grade in PFF’s 2025 NFL tight end ranking
Former Wisconsin Badger and current Dallas Cowboy Jake Ferguson landed at No. 17 in ProFootballFocus’ recent list of the NFL’s top tight ends entering 2025.
Ferguson, whose 145 career receptions rank second all-time among Badger tight ends, earned a Pro Bowl appearance in 2023. In three seasons with Dallas, Ferguson has reeled in 149 receptions for 1,429 yards and seven touchdowns.
Sandwiched between New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (No. 16) and Green Bay Packers pass-catcher Tucker Craft (No. 18), Ferguson dropped five spots from last year’s preseason ranking. The Rapid City, Wisconsin, native did miss three games in 2024, starting in all 14 of his appearances.
In those 14 contests, the Wisconsin product snagged 59 receptions for 494 yards as Dallas’ No. 2 passing option behind superstar CeeDee Lamb. That output followed a career-best 71-reception, 761-yard, five-touchdown performance in 2023, the year he made the Pro Bowl.
While Ferguson’s productivity certainly declined, he remains a staple asset in the Cowboys‘ offensive system. Here’s PFF’s take:
“Ferguson looked like a tight end on the cusp of cracking the top 10 a year ago before the Cowboys’ struggles and injuries caused the decline in production and grading for the third-year Wisconsin Badger. While Ferguson should enjoy a bounce-back 2025 campaign, his 56.6 PFF receiving grade and four fumbles in 2024 are worrisome for his outlook.”
With the Badgers, Ferguson snared a pass in every game he suited up in and set the school record for most consecutive games with a reception with 47. His 1,618 career receiving yards also land at No. 3 all-time among tight ends to play for Wisconsin.
