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Dallas Cowboys: Early favorite emerges at tight end

By Steven Mullenax

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 12: Blake Countess #24 of the Los Angeles Rams tackles Blake Jarwin #89 of the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of a presason game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 12: Blake Countess #24 of the Los Angeles Rams tackles Blake Jarwin #89 of the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of a presason game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Following the retirement of Jason Witten, which young tight end will emerge as the Dallas Cowboys starter? One insider has been surprised by one candidate.

When Dallas Cowboys veteran tight end Jason Witten decided to hang up his cleats and retire after 15 seasons in the NFL in order to pursue a broadcasting career this offseason, America’s Team didn’t seem quite prepared for his departure.

News first broke that the now 36-year old Witten was contemplating retirement following the first day of the 2018 NFL Draft. It’s unclear just how long the Cowboys actually knew it was a possibility, but I think it’s safe to say the team had to be taken a bit off-guard by the decision. Less than two weeks prior Witten declared he intended to play in 2018.

Regardless, the Cowboys could never groom a true successor for Witten. The future Hall of Famer played nearly every offensive snap, leaving any potential replacements sidelined and woefully inexperienced. Names like Anthony Fasano, Martellus Bennett and Gavin Escobar all wilted under the massive shadow of Witten in Dallas and eventually moved on.

So when the stalwart tight end called it quits more than a month ago now, there was no clear cut successor to take his place.

Instead, the Cowboys are left facing the new year without much experience at the position. In fact, only Geoff Swaim has ever actually recorded a catch in the regular season out of this group. A whopping nine receptions total.

But someone has to emerge as a starter from this inexperienced tight end depth chart. Whether that be Swaim, second-year Blake Jarwin, former Basketball star Rico Gathers or rookie Dalton Schultz.

One Cowboys insider has really liked what he seen so far from Jarwin. Enough, in fact, to make him one of his biggest surprises of the offseason.

"“I can now see why the front office didn’t want to lose [Blake Jarwin] off the practice squad last season when they really didn’t have a spot,” wrote football analyst Bryan Broaddus on the team’s official website. “His ability to get down the field while finding space has been impressive. His hands to finish might be his best trait.”"

The fact the Cowboys opted to carry four tight ends on their active roster at one point last year just to keep Jarwin on the team tells you a lot about how they feel about the undrafted rookie free agent out of Oklahoma State. According to the Dallas Morning News, no other tight end has been praised more by executive vice president Stephen Jones as of late.

Coming out of college, the 6-foot-5, 260 pound Jarwin was seen a projected sixth round pick who possessed the physical traits to become a compete tight end in the NFL. Unfortunately, his lack of production (41 career receptions) dropped the 23-year old out of the draft completely last year.

Next: Top 10 Undrafted Free Agents in Dallas Cowboys History

The Dallas Cowboys need someone to step this summer and earn the starting tight end spot on this roster. And it appears Blake Jarwin seems to the be the early favorite going into training camp. Whether he remains atop the depth chart will be determined in the next three months. Stay tuned.

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