Are the Dallas Cowboys interested in tight end Jordan Reed?

Could the Dallas Cowboys have an interest in signing veteran tight end Jordan Reed?

Having a future Hall of Famer at tight end for 16 years is a luxury many NFL teams will never have. Luckily, the Dallas Cowboys were fortunate to field a player like Jason Witten for much of this century.

But the Cowboys decided to move on from Witten this offseason, allowing the 38-year old veteran to join the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent. Dallas also elected to sign former undrafted free agent tight end Blake Jarwin to a new four-year contract, cementing him as the starter for the foreseeable future.

The Cowboys also brought in a free agent tight end of their own, inking Blake Bell to a one-year deal presumably to be the blocking option to pair alongside Jarwin. Rounding out the depth chart at tight end are former fourth-rounder Dalton Schultz, Cole Hikutini, and Sean McKeon, an undrafted rookie out of Michigan.

Despite those moves, the Cowboys’ tight end position is likely the most lackluster of all the offensive units. Dallas is clearly hoping that Jarwin is able to fulfill the potential that he flashed at the end of 2018.

That year, in the Cowboys’ final regular-season matchup against their NFC East rivals, the New York Giants, the then second-year tight end went off. Jarwin racked up an incredible stat-line catching seven of his eight targets for 119 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-35 victory.

Last season, Jarwin had back-to-back games with touchdown receptions in victories against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week Seven and the Giants in Week Eight. But the 25-year old was only targeted twice in the span, making each reception count. Jarwin would finish his third season in Dallas posting career-highs in starts (7), targets (41), receptions (31), and receiving yards (365).

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With a new head coach in Mike McCarthy at the helm, and many fresh faces on the coaching staff, are the Cowboys truly satisfied with the talent currently occupying the depth chart at tight end? Well, with the draft in the books and the bulk of quality free agents spoken for, the options for Dallas are frankly limited.

The Dallas Cowboys could have interest in this former NFC East foe

But one player who might interest the Cowboys is free agent veteran tight end Jordan Reed. Having played for the soon-to-be renamed Washington franchise for six seasons, Dallas is well aware of Reed’s abilities as a divisional rival. In fact, the last time he played the Cowboys, Reed posted one of his better games of the season recording six catches on eight targets for 75 yards in a Week 11 matchup back in 2018.

A third-round selection by Washington back in 2013, injuries have plagued Reed’s entire career. The now 30-year old tight end has never been able to play a full-16 game season in the NFL and missed all of last year due to a concussion.

But when Reed has been available, his talent is undeniable. He had his best season back in 2015, recording 87 receptions for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns. The following year, Reed was selected to his first and only Pro Bowl.

Despite coming off a season-ending injury and health concerns, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports that three NFL teams are interested in signing Reed. Could one of those teams be the Cowboys?

The Dallas Cowboys certainly know what Jordan Reed is capable of and could seemingly use more talent at the position. Plus, with someone like Blake Jarwin already earmarked as the now and future starter, Reed’s injury history may not be that big of an issue. It’s easy to see why the Cowboys might be interested.