Question: We'll know more after OTAs and training camp, but what are the realistic expectations for tight end Rico Gathers?
Brandon George: It's time for the Cowboys to either put Rico Gathers on the field in the regular season or move on from him. They've been patient with Gathers to give him a chance to learn the NFL and become a more complete player. They know his ability to catch the football is his strength but he needed to become a better blocker and learn the offense more after not having played football since the eighth grade. With Jason Witten now retired, the Cowboys need Gathers to become a part of their offense. Realistically, the Cowboys will likely spot him at times in positions he's more comfortable in, such as a big target in the red zone, and see how he handles that before giving him more responsibilities in the offense.
Jon Machota: It's interesting that whenever someone from the Cowboys is asked about the tight end position, Gathers' name is usually mentioned last when running down the depth chart. He has to have a strong camp and a good preseason showing for me to think he'll be in the mix this season. He can obviously catch the ball. He's already a legitimate red-zone threat in the passing game. But there are so many other aspects of playing the position that he'll need to improve on for the coaching staff to feel comfortable putting him out there. It's realistic to think he improves in some of those other areas and gets opportunities with the first team leading into the regular season. It's how he handles those reps that will determine if he's a part of the game plan in September.
Kate Hairopoulos: The hype and the hope have been great for Rico Gathers since the Cowboys used their last pick on the former basketball power forward in the 2016 draft. Yet, two seasons have come and gone and he still hasn't appeared in a regular season game. No question that the concussion suffered in training camp last summer served as a serious setback. He wasn't around the team for a long time, somewhat mysteriously. Gathers is back now and working with the team. We know he's a big target; throw the ball up and let him go get it. What still remains to be seen is how much he can pick up the nuances of the game -- the blocks, the pass game and the run game, there's a lot to learn -- and earn the trust of the coaches to be part of the gameday roster.