Dalton Schultz

Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones: “I Don’t Expect A Trade”

October 23rd, 2022 at 6:19pm CST by Rory Parks

The Cowboys defeated the Lions 24-6 on Sunday to improve their record to 5-2. That mark is only good for third place in the improved NFC East, but Dallas is clearly in the mix to win the division for the second consecutive year, and it is firmly entrenched as a potential buyer in advance of the November 1 trade deadline.

Owner Jerry Jones, though, is not expecting his club to swing a deal. “I don’t see that,” Jones said on Sunday (via Jon Machota of The Athletic on Twitter). “I don’t expect a trade.” Jones said he would be “all in” if the Cowboys could acquire a player of Deion Sanders‘ caliber, which is just a tongue-in-cheek way of saying he does not foresee a trade coming together in the next week.

Jones is doubtlessly encouraged by the fact that four of the Cowboys’ five wins have come with backup signal-caller Cooper Rush under center. QB1 Dak Prescott returned for the victory over Detroit after suffering a hand injury in a Week 1 loss to the Bucs, and he eventually found a rhythm in his first game action in six weeks. The star of the game, though, was the Dallas defense, which forced five turnovers in yet another strong performance.

Coming into Sunday’s matchup, the Cowboys ranked eighth in the NFL in total defense and third in points allowed per game, and the five takeaways against the Lions will put them near the top of the league in that category as well. The picture has not been as rosy on the offensive side of the ball, but it would be fair to expect a noticeable improvement with Prescott back in the fold.

However, even the deepest NFL rosters have one or two positions that could use a boost, and the Cowboys are no exception. The team’s running back tandem of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard has been strong, but an addition to a WR corps that lost Amari Cooper in the offseason may be worth exploring, and there are plenty of wideouts who profile as potential trade candidates. A tight end reinforcement may also be appropriate in light of the knee issues that have been plaguing Dalton Schultz, issues that cropped up again on Sunday (Twitter link via ESPN’s Field Yates). Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki, like Schultz, is playing the 2022 season under the franchise tag, and he may be available if Miami receives an offer to its liking.

As far as the defense is concerned, an already strong unit would clearly benefit from a middle linebacker and/or interior defensive lineman to shore up its weakness against runs between the tackles. Adding a player like Bears LB Roquan Smith may have a trickle-down effect on the rest of the front seven and could further strengthen a pass rush that has been performing at an elite level.

Jones’ comments notwithstanding, the Cowboys will clearly do their due diligence and will pull the trigger if the right player becomes available for the right price. At the moment, though, the most recognizable owner in the league does not believe that will happen.

NFC East Notes: Wentz, Cowboys, Collins

October 13th, 2022 at 11:03am CST by Sam Robinson

Although Carson Wentz scrutiny has intensified over the past two seasons, he has not missed time due to injury in that span. But the Commanders quarterback will be playing hurt for the time being. Wentz is battling a right biceps tendon strain, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, who adds this issue injected some doubt into the seventh-year quarterback’s availability against the Bears on Thursday night. Wentz will play and hope he can improve during Washington’s upcoming mini-bye.

Wentz, who has thrown 10 touchdown passes this season, ranks 24th in QBR going into Washington’s Week 6 game. Here is the latest from the NFC East:

Another player who has dealt with a litany of injuries, Jason Peters may return to action sooner than expected. A chest injury was rumored to affect the 40-year-old lineman’s status for multiple weeks, but after going through practice Wednesday, Peters declared himself “ready to roll” for Sunday night’s Cowboys-Eagles tilt (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota, on Twitter). Peters practiced in a limited capacity to start the week. He has played in two games with Dallas, seeing his Week 4 snap count (34) rise from his Cowboys debut (22). Peters has rotated in with both Connor McGovern and Matt Farniok at left guard this season.
Dalton Schultz aggravated the knee injury that forced him to miss Week 4. The franchise-tagged Cowboys tight end returned to action in Los Angeles but left the game due to his PCL issue flaring up, Pelissero tweets. While this is a bit concerning, Pelissero adds no new damage occurred. Schultz still has a chance to play against the Eagles. Schultz got in a limited practice Wednesday. Like fellow tagged tight end Mike Gesicki, Schultz has not made much of an impact this season. He will enter Week 6 with nine catches for 80 yards and no touchdowns.
Landon Collins initially left the Giants after Washington blew him away with a six-year, $84MM offer in 2019, but the veteran defender said he wanted to stay in New York. “I would have definitely loved to be here. It sucked,” Collins said, via the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz, of leaving New York three years ago. “I honestly wanted to stay but [former GM Dave] Gettleman didn’t want me here. Had to take my chances somewhere else.” The Giants, who drafted Collins under a previous regime, did not submit an offer to the former second-rounder on the way out. Collins, who caught on with the Giants’ practice squad last week, is not expected to be activated this week, per Schwartz. But the Pro Bowl safety-turned-linebacker is ramping up toward a near-future hybrid role. Collins, 28, said he wants to retire with the Giants. His 2022 play will determine how realistic that prospect is.

Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz Expected To Return In Week 4

October 1st, 2022 at 6:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys are still awaiting the return of their starting quarterback, but one of his favorite pass-catchers is set to return tomorrow. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that tight end Dalton Schultz is expected to play against the Commanders (Twitter link).

Schultz missed out on Dallas’ Week 3 contest due to a PCL injury. His recovery has gone smoothly, however, leading to optimism that he would not be sidelined for very long. A return to full health would be a welcomed sight for the Cowboys, considering the fact that Schultz was on the field for every offensive play in the team’s season opener and logged a 90% snap share the following week.

A 2018 fourth-round pick, the 26-year-old emerged as a key contributor in the team’s highly-productive passing game over the past two years. That led to the Cowboys making the expected decision of placing the franchise tag on him. At times, it seemed as though a long-term deal would be reached, but nothing materialized, tying the Stanford alum to a $10.9MM cap figure this season.

Especially given the lack of proven players in Dallas’ pass-catching corps to start the campaign, that led to significant expectations for Schultz. So far, he has totaled just nine catches for 80 scoreless yards, though one of his two contests came with backup Cooper Rush under center, of course. That will be the case for at least one more week.

It remains to be seen if wideout Michael Gallup will make his season debut. He continues to rehab the torn ACL which he suffered last December; there were indications that he would play in a limited capacity last week, but the team has understandably remained cautious with his return to the field. With CeeDee Lamb operating as the unquestioned No. 1 at the position, Dallas’ passing game currently ranks 25th in the league with an average of 216 yards per game. A healthy Schultz and Gallup could go a long way to that figure improving, and Dallas moving to 3-1 on the season.

Latest On Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz, WR Michael Gallup

September 26th, 2022 at 5:32pm CST by Ben Levine

SEPTEMBER 26: Although a run of Gallup-related optimism emerged this week, the Cowboys will still opt for caution regarding the fifth-year wideout. Gallup will not play against the Giants in Week 3, Jane Slater of NFL.com tweets. The Cowboys are hopeful Gallup, who got in three limited practices leading up to this Giants matchup, can make his debut against the Commanders next week. Gallup did not suffer a setback, Slater adds (via Twitter). Schultz is expected to miss the game as well, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.

SEPTEMBER 21: There’s some good news on the Cowboys’ injury front. According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter), tight end Dalton Schultz avoided a serious knee injury and shouldn’t miss much time. Gehlken also tweets that wide receiver Michael Gallup could make his season debut on Monday night against the Giants.

Schultz suffered a knee injury during Sunday’s win over the Bengals, but an MRI later revealed that his injury could have been much worse. The tight end is specifically dealing with a PCL injury, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer (on Twitter), and he’s currently considered day-to-day. Jerry Jones cautioned yesterday that Schultz could end up sitting out Week 3, but if that’s the case, it sounds like it should only be a one-week absence.

The tight end had a strong season in 2021, finishing with 808 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Through two games this season, the 26-year-old has hauled in nine receptions for 80 yards.

Meanwhile, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said it’s “certainly possible” that Gallup takes the field on Monday night (per Gehlken on Twitter), while Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News tweets that Gallup will indeed play but will be on a snap count. The receiver tore his ACL in Week 17 of the 2021 season, and he later inked a five-year, $62.5MM extension with Dallas this offseason.

“The plan for Michael Gallup is to get him a full week of work,” coach Mike McCarthy said (via Watkins). “He hasn’t had that yet. Hopefully when we get to the end of it, we’ll be able to make a decision. I think I talked about this last week, I really don’t see Michael going through a second padded practice, I thought his work last week was excellent. He frankly, did a little more than we anticipated in the beginning of the week. We’re going to try and give him a full slate this week and see how it goes.”

Cowboys’ Jason Peters To Play In Week 3

September 26th, 2022 at 1:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of Tyron Smith‘s injury, the Cowboys added Jason Peters as a stop-gap. The veteran will make his Dallas debut tonight, as first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz (Twitter link).

Peters will be not be manning the left tackle spot, however. The 40-year-old will move inside to left guard, something which the team has been experimenting with in the build-up to his debut. That news should ease his workload, something which will be further limited by keeping him on a pitch count (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News). It also signals confidence in first-round rookie Tyler Smith, who has played every snap on the blindside so far.

Gehlken also tweets that Peters is being signed to the Cowboys’ active roster from the practice squad. Dallas is elevating quarterback Will Grier and tight end Sean McKeon. If he sees the field, Peters will eat into Connor McGovern‘s playing time (if the latter is able to suit up after being sidelined last week), while resuming his efforts to transition inside – something which briefly took place in 2020 with the Eagles.

In other Cowboys news, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that wide receiver Michael Gallup will not play tonight (Twitter link). He has yet to play in 2022, as he continues to recover from knee surgery. Dallas could also be without tight end Dalton Schultz, who is dealing with a knee injury of his own; he will be a game-time decision. The absence of both would further hurt a Cowboys offense already missing Dak Prescott for at least one more week.

With Tyron Smith expected to be back before the end of the regular season, the Cowboys will have a decision to make regarding Tyler Smith, along with Peters and McGovern, down the road. For now, at least, the team will have options at both the tackle and guard spots, as Peters looks to begin the second chapter of his All-Pro career with his once-NFC East rival in a key divisional contest.

Franchise Tag Roundup: Bengals, Chiefs, Cowboys, Dolphins Table Talks To 2023

July 15th, 2022 at 10:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the first time since 2018, the summer franchise tag deadline day did not produce an extension. The past three years brought deadline-day deals for Taylor Moton, Derrick Henry, Chris Jones, Grady Jarrett and Robbie Gould. None of the four teams who still had tagged players could hammer out a deal Friday, however.

Bengals safety Jessie Bates, Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki and Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz remain attached to their franchise tag prices ($12.9MM, $16.7MM, $10.9MM, $10.9MM, respectively). They are prevented from negotiating with their teams again until the 2022 season ends. The four teams can apply second franchise tags to these players in 2023, at 120% of their 2022 tag prices.

The Chiefs and Brown came closest to a deal. Although the Chiefs reached an extension agreement with Frank Clark upon trading a first-round pick and change for him in 2019, they postponed Brown negotiations last year. When the sides came to the table, after Brown earned a Pro Bowl nod for his first season as a full-time left tackle, the fifth-year blocker had a new agent and wanted a deal that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman. The Chiefs were willing to go there, but on their terms. What amounts to a dummy year in the contract’s final season led Brown to turn down a six-year, $139MM extension offer. Although failed tag talks often lead to separations the following year, it would surprise if the Chiefs — considering the compensation they parted with for Brown in 2021 — did not make a strong effort to extend Brown in 2023.
Less clarity emerged with the other three tag negotiations, but the Bengals‘ five-year offer and reported guarantee of around $17MM — which would be a fringe top-10 mark at the safety position — did not bring Bates to sign an extension. The fifth-year defender wanted to be the NFL’s highest-paid safety, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). Minkah Fitzpatrick moved that number to $18.2MM per year this summer. Bates expressed interest in re-signing with the Bengals in 2021, after he posted a strong 2020 season. Following a less impactful 2021 regular season, Bates rebounded with critical playoff contributions. The Bengals, who drafted safety Daxton Hill in Round 1 and have Vonn Bell under contract for one more season, may be willing to let Bates test free agency a year from now. But Bell’s contract-year status may well keep Bates in the fold beyond 2022.
A lot of Schultz news came out this offseason, including a late rumor of a possible deal coming to fruition. But scant optimism about a Cowboys long-term deal surfaced. Dallas cuffed its top tight end and, with Schultz having signed his tender, he can be fined daily for not reporting to training camp. Although Schultz left OTAs to make a point about negotiations, he showed for Cowboys minicamp. The sides, however, appeared far apart. Ahead of Friday’s deadline, they had not negotiated in weeks. Contract length was an issue for Schultz’s camp. While Dak Prescott‘s contract is an exception, the Cowboys prefer five- or six-year extensions. No deadline-day magic occurred, and Schultz may become a bigger part of Dallas’ offense, with the team having traded Amari Cooper shortly after tagging its tight end.
It does not sound like substantial Gesicki-Dolphins talks occurred this offseason. Though, Gesicki was interested in an extension. After the former second-round pick broke through for a 703-yard, six-touchdown 2020 season, the team did not make an extension ahead of his 2021 contract year a priority. Gesicki then posted a 780-yard slate. That was enough to move Miami to keep the Penn State product off the free agent market. Gesicki should play a key part in a critical Tua Tagovailoa season, but with Tyreek Hill‘s $30MM-per-year contract now on Miami’s books, other Dolphins skill players may be affected.

The Browns (David Njoku), Buccaneers (Chris Godwin), Jaguars (Cam Robinson) and Packers (Davante Adams) saw their tagged players land extensions. Adams’ money, of course, came from the Raiders, who gave their new All-Pro weapon a five-year, $140MM extension — a deal that impacted Hill’s Chiefs talks and one that has two lofty nonguaranteed salaries in its final two years — after Adams voiced a preference to reunite with Derek Carr out west. Njoku becoming the NFL’s fourth-highest-paid tight end, after not matching either of Gesicki or Schultz’s best seasons, likely became an issue in the Cowboys and Dolphins’ respective negotiations.

Bates and Brown have not signed their tenders. This would allow each to skip training camp without being fined. The 2020 CBA prevents teams from waiving fines for holdouts, pointing to Gesicki and Schultz showing up. Bates is not expected to attend camp, and Brown hinted at staying away for a while. The Bengals and Chiefs’ tagged performers have until Nov. 15 to sign their tenders, or they cannot play in 2022. Multiple defensive linemen (Sean Gilbert and Dan Williams, the latter a Chiefs tag recipient) followed through with skipping seasons after being tagged in the late 1990s, but Le’Veon Bell (2018) is the only player to pass on a guaranteed salary by skipping a full season while attached to the tag this century.

TEs Dalton Schultz, Mike Gesicki Expected To Play On Franchise Tags

July 14th, 2022 at 4:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

As the deadline for franchise tag recipients continues to draw near, there has been a noteworthy (if unsurprising) development regarding the two tight ends yet to sign a long-term deal. In a pair of tweets, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that neither Dalton Schultz nor Mike Gesicki are expected to reach agreement with their respective teams on a new contract.

No talks have taken place between Schultz and the Cowboys in weeks, so it was reported days ago that nothing was considered to be imminent in terms of a last-minute deal being finalized. While the door had been opened to the possibility of such a scenario materializing, this news is in line with what had been expected throughout the offseason.

Schultz wouldn’t have been on the tag radar after his first two seasons in Dallas. The former fourth-rounder had totalled just 13 scoreless receptions by the start of the 2020 season. Since then, however, he has received 193 targets, accrued 1,423 yards and racked up 12 scores. Dallas has obviously not been able to put together a multi-year offer close enough to Schultz’s perceived value, however.

In Gesicki’s case, it was likewise reported recently that an extension was unlikely at this late stage of the negotiating window. The 26-year-old entered the league with more pedigree compared to Schultz from his college days, and has been a consistent contributor in Miami’s passing game for longer. He posted new career highs in receptions (73) and yards (780) in 2021, continuing his ascending production.

“I am absolutely open to negotiation, but it’s not really up to me,” he said in April, when asked about contract talks. “If they reach out, my agent will be listening.” Not much progress has been made since then, as the Dolphins seem prepared to let 2022 play out with Gesicki perhaps falling down the pecking order in a pass-catching corps which now includes Tyreek Hill.

By remaining on the tag – which, unlike Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and Bengals safety Jessie Bates, both Schultz and Gesicki have signed – the pair will each earn $10.93MM. That could constitute considerable value at a position whose market has been elevated by deals such as the one signed by fellow tag recipient David Njoku, who has less of a track record of success. A second tag next season would cost roughly $13.12MM, which still wouldn’t rank in the top-five at the position. Attention will now turn to Brown and Bates to see if last-minute deals can be reached with their respective teams.

No Deal Imminent Between Cowboys, Dalton Schultz

July 12th, 2022 at 10:21am CST by Adam La Rose

As the deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign extensions continues to approach, one of the situations receiving the most attention is that between the Cowboys and tight end Dalton Schultz. For the most part, signs have pointed towards a stalemate preventing a long-term pact being worked out. That likelihood is strengthened, if anything, by the latest update on the matter.

Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning New reports that there have been no contract talks between the two sides “in weeks” (Twitter link). As a result, he adds, “no deal is imminent” at this point. That falls in line with the prevailing sentiment throughout the spring, as both parties have remained far apart during negotiations at all times.

There was, on the other hand, cause for at least some optimism over the weekend, when it was predicted that talks would resume in the days leading up to Friday’s deadline. Assuming that takes place, the chance will still remain that a breakthrough can be reached; if not, the former fourth-rounder will earn $10.9MM in 2022 on the tag.

The tight end market has, like other positions, experienced an upward trend in recent years. 2022 has seen David Njoku land a sizeable extension, leading many to wonder what extensions for Schultz and fellow tag recipient Mike Gesicki would look like. The Cowboys have, of course, shown a propensity to give multi-year deals to key contributors in the prime. Schultz has demonstrated that he fits into that category, becoming one of Dak Prescott‘s most reliable targets during the past two campaigns in particular.

A long-term contract would, in all likelihood, elevate Schultz comfortably into the top-10 in TE per-year earnings. He could also land such a deal with the Cowboys (who have used multiple tags in recent years on cornerstone players) or another team in 2023, given the increased pass-catching role he is in line for this year. Barring a significant change, the latter timing scenario still seems the likeliest outcome in this situation.

Four Players Remain On Franchise Tag; Extension Deadline Friday

July 11th, 2022 at 12:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

The teams that still have players tied to the franchise tag have until 3pm CT Friday to reach extension agreements with the tagged performers. Otherwise, those players will play the 2022 season on the tag.

This year has brought a better success rate for tags leading to extensions, at least compared to the past two offseasons. Four of the eight players given the tag in March have signed extensions. That betters the 2020 (2-for-14) and 2021 (3-for-9) success rates. While Chris Godwin (Buccaneers), Cam Robinson (Jaguars), David Njoku (Browns) and Davante Adams (Packers; traded to Raiders) agreed to deals, the rest of this year’s group remains unsigned.

Here is how that quartet stands entering deadline week:

S Jessie Bates, Cincinnati Bengals

This looks like the most contentious of this year’s remaining tag situations. Bates, 25, discussed his disappointment about the lack of a Bengals extension ahead of his 2021 contract year and admitted not receiving a long-term deal affected him during the season. The former second-round pick, who rebounded with a postseason run featuring two interceptions and six pass deflections, voiced opposition to the franchise tag in February. Absent a long-term deal, the fifth-year defender is not expected to show for Bengals training camp. Bates, who has not signed his franchise tender, is tied to a $12.9MM tag figure. The Bengals hold $15.8MM in cap space.

Cincinnati has Vonn Bell on a $6MM-per-year deal, one that expires at season’s end, and used a first-round pick on safety Daxton Hill. The team has some notable players who become extension-eligible after 2022, notably Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins, and they may not be prepared to extend Bates on the level of Minkah Fitzpatrick ($18.2MM per year) or Jamal Adams ($17.5MM AAV). With the Bengals potentially eyeing Marcus Williams‘ five-year, $70MM Ravens deal, this impasse has created “bleak” negotiations leading up to the deadline.

The Bengals have taken care of homegrown defenders in the fairly recent past, giving both Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins two extensions and re-signing Dre Kirkpatrick in 2017. They also have let productive starters go, as evidenced by the departures of Andrew Whitworth, Kevin Zeitler, William Jackson and Carl Lawson. Zeitler signed a then-guard-record deal with the Browns in 2017; is Bates headed for free agency after a rental year?

T Orlando Brown Jr., Kansas City Chiefs

This situation has not produced as many headlines as Bates’ over the past year, but the Chiefs are a few days away from going to year-to-year with their left tackle. Brown is tied to a $16.7MM tag but is pursuing a deal that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman. Trent Williams, whom the Chiefs pursued in free agency last year before pivoting to a Brown trade, currently holds that title ($23MM per year). The league has three $20MM-AAV O-linemen (Williams, David Bakhtiari and Laremy Tunsil). For Brown to commit to a long-term deal, he would need to be the fourth. The Chiefs hold $14.3MM in cap space.

The Chiefs gave up their 2021 first-round pick for Brown, in a deal that also sent a Ravens second-rounder to Kansas City. Brown hired an agent that did not have an NFL client at that point, seeking a representative without relationships with front offices. The former Ravens third-rounder delivered an ominous message to his current team last month. Addressing the AFC West arrivals of Chandler Jones, Khalil Mack and Randy Gregory, Brown said it is “not the year to go into the season with a backup left tackle.” The sides have begun talks, which was the Chiefs’ plan upon acquiring Brown in 2021. But these could, as many tag stalemates do, go up to the deadline.

In moving from a right tackle the Ravens did not have in their long-term plans to a Chiefs Pro Bowler given the tag, Brown has shown a knack for maximizing his value. Like Bates, Brown has not signed his franchise tender, giving him the option of skipping training camp free of charge. The Chiefs have just one O-lineman, Joe Thuney, signed to a notable veteran deal. It would seem the franchise is prepared to give Brown a big-ticket extension. If the 26-year-old blocker is intent on surpassing Williams’ deal, it will test the Chiefs’ commitment.

TE Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins might be eyeing a rental season here. Gesicki signed his franchise tender and has expressed interest in a long-term Miami deal. But the team may want to see more from the former second-round pick. Less than a week before the deadline, the sides have not done much work on an extension. Njoku’s $14.2MM-per-year pact can reasonably be viewed as a Gesicki target, with the Dolphins tight end producing two seasons — yardage-wise — that outpaced Njoku’s best year. Even before Njoku’s extension, the Dolphins and their tagged tight end were not close on a re-up. The Dolphins hold $16.5MM in cap space.

Mike McDaniel reshaped the Dolphins’ offense this offseason, and on just a $10.9MM franchise tender, the Penn State product makes sense as a rental piece. This represents a crucial year for Tua Tagovailoa, and the Dolphins kept one of his top targets off the market. Gesicki, 26, could join this year’s other tagged tight end as a 2023 free agent. It would cost the Dolphins 120% of this year’s tight end tag figure to cuff Gesicki again in 2023.

TE Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys frequently hammer out extensions, preferring deals that last at least five years. That preference has impacted the Schultz talks, with the Njoku contract undoubtedly factoring into this equation as well. Throughout the offseason, the Cowboys and Schultz have not been close on an agreement. Schultz, 26, did not finish OTAs with the team, citing dissatisfaction with his contract talks for leaving. He later circled back for mandatory minicamp. Despite little momentum emerging for much of the offseason, these negotiations still have a chance of producing an agreement ahead of Friday’s deadline. The Cowboys hold $22.5MM in cap space; Schultz has signed his tender.

Unlike Gesicki’s situation, the tight end tag talks in Dallas have continued throughout the offseason. The $10.9MM payment obviously represents a major raise for the former fourth-round pick, but as Blake Jarwin‘s injury issues have shown, players can lose value quickly. The Cowboys paid Jarwin ahead of his career-altering injuries, and Schultz has been a far more effective weapon, as evidenced by his 808-yard, eight-touchdown 2021 season. The Cowboys were wise to keep him off this year’s market, with Amari Cooper being traded and Michael Gallup unlikely to start the season on time.

If Schultz and the Cowboys cannot agree on terms by Friday, his status as a key Dak Prescott target stands to position the Stanford alum for a big payday as a 2023 UFA. Then again, the Cowboys have re-tagged multiple players — Prescott and DeMarcus Lawrence — over the past five years.

Long-Term Dalton Schultz Extension Still Possible?

July 10th, 2022 at 2:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Days away from the deadline for franchise tag decisions, there is a wide range spanning the various situations teams are in with tagged players. While all signs point to Mike Gesicki playing out the season on the one-year pact, there could be cause for optimism regarding a deal being reached between Dalton Schultz and the Cowboys.

The tight end will earn $10.9MM in 2022 in the absence of a long-term extension. That figure would represent a substantial raise from his rookie contract earnings, but the position’s market has been boosted this offseason by David Njoku‘s unexpectedly lucrative extension in particular. That has likely influenced contract talks between Dallas and the former fourth-rounder failing to pick up much traction.

However, an eleventh-hour breakthrough remains possible. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes how talks have continued throughout much of the offseason, and predicts that further discussions will take place this week (video link). More specifically, he is “[keeping] open the possibility of a long-term deal” being agreed upon before the deadline on July 15.

That would represent a stark contrast to where things currently stand between Gesicki and the Dolphins, and the tone struck by Schultz himself as this process has played out. The soon-to-be 26-year-old skipped part of the team’s OTAs while he was frustrated by the progress of negotiations; he did, however, report to minicamp.

If Schultz does end up playing on the tag, he will have the chance to put together a second straight campaign with significant production. He emerged as a focal point in the Cowboys’ offense in 2021, registering 78 catches, 808 yards and eight touchdowns. Duplicating those figures could be made easier by the absence of Amari Cooper, and the subsequent uptick in targets Schultz could see in 2022.

If he does land a multi-year pact, though, the Stanford alum could join the seven-player club of TEs averaging at least $12.5MM per season. How much the Cowboys (who rank third in the league in 2022 cap space) are willing to compensate Schultz will dictate how this situation ends later this week.

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