It’s unclear if the Dallas Cowboys will make a move before the NFL trade deadline, but they have a key option at the Chicago Bears’ tight end situation.
The latest link lists Bears TE Robert Tonian as available for pickup by the Cowboys through the end of October.
Jake Ferguson leads the charge for Dallas, but the rest of the lineup is an afterthought.
Improvements in this group could help Dallas’ run and pass. In an October 23 article, Christopher Knox of Bleacher Report suggested Tonyan as a notable name.
“Efficiency in hazardous areas remains a major concern,” begins Knox. “The Cowboys converted just 39.1 percent of their trips into the red zone into touchdowns … Offensively, the Cowboys could add a power returner like [Derrick Henry] or a backup like Tonyan … President, Franchise Owner and Director General Jerry Jones.
I would like to add something before the deadline.”
Tonyan is an interesting idea for coach Mike McCarthy’s offense because of his versatility.
He doesn’t have the same athleticism as Ferguson, but he’s a good blocker.
He also has a solid pair of punt returners and could be the answer to the Cowboys’ red zone woes as another big target in the end zone.
Tonyan has experience working with Mike McCarthy.
Robert Tonyan entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He originally signed with the Detroit Lions, but was waived before the start of the season.
The Green Bay Packers and McCarthy signed Tonyan for the final four games of the season.
The current Cowboys coach was impressed with Tonyan’s contributions the following season, but he wasn’t a pass-rushing weapon to begin with. That changed when he hauled in a 54-yard reception into the end zone, but his role was still limited.
As PFR notes, Tonyan’s role expanded significantly after McCarthy left Green Bay and eventually joined the Cowboys.
In 2020, Tonyan had 52 catches for 586 receiving yards and 11 scores as the Packers used him as a secondary weapon.
The total was completely unusual as Tonyan had only scored two goals in each of the previous two seasons.
However, after a slight decline in 2021, he caught 53 passes for 470 yards in 2022.
But Green Bay felt it was time to move on in 2023, prompting the Bears to add a free agent.
Through seven receptions, Tonyan had five catches for 39 yards.
cowboys sign practice squad
Robert Tonyan has been mentioned as a trade candidate for Dallas, but the Cowboys front office has added a potential option in the form of Eric Saubert.
As Heavy’s Jonathan Adams recently reported, Sauber was signed to the practice squad on October 24.
Sauber has been courted by NFL teams since entering the league as a fifth-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2017.
Like Tonyan, he also played for the Bears.
But that doesn’t fit his resume.
His best season came in 2022 with the Denver Broncos.
Sauber caught 15 passes for 148 receiving yards and a touchdown.
All of these stats were either Sauber’s career highs or career highs.