Dallas Cowboys: Which tight end will emerge from the pack?
By Tim Kohut
The Dallas Cowboys have said they will utilize a tight-end by committee approach to replace Jason Witten. However, one will inevitably set himself apart.
The Dallas Cowboys will have large shoes to fill after the retirement of tight end Jason Witten. And apparently, they’re set on doing it with several feet. The Cowboys have said they are committed to a tight end by committee approach. At least at the offset of the season.
Witten himself believes the Cowboys have the right group of guys in Rico Gathers, Geoff Swaim, Blake Jarwin, Dalton Schultz and David Wells.
But in an recent interview, the veteran mentioned that one specific tight end will have to carry the load at the offset.
"“They’re going to have to lean on [Geoff] Swaim to be able to kind of carry the workload, but they do have young talent in [Blake] Jarwin and Rico [Gathers] that they see as a little bit of a flash player that can come in and have roles in the red zone or third down and the passing game,” Witten told Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News."
So according to Witten, who has seen most of these guys on the practice field, it appears Swaim is the early favorite to emerge as the top tight end from the bunch.
Gathers has phenomenal upside as a pass-catcher. And fourth-round pick Dalton Schultz appears to have a game that most closely resembles Witten.
But Swaim might be the most complete tight end of the bunch. Not to mention the fact he has two years of NFL experience under his belt, and a good rapport with quarterback Dak Prescott.
With the Cowboys playing mostly out of the ’11’ personnel package, as opposed a two tight end set over the past several years, it looks like they will be relying on one guy at a time to come in and be a productive pass catcher and run blocker.
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Nothing is set in stone yet, but if Jason Witten’s hunch is correct, Geoff Swaim could be the guy that gets the nod. Regardless, the tight end competition will be one of the more interesting training camp storylines in Dallas this year.