5 Cowboys players who may have played their last game with Dallas
1. Dalton Schultz, TE
Let us be clear. This one has nothing to do with performance. This is all about the price tag. Dalton Schultz had an incredible 2021-22 season. Remember that he wasn’t even a starter in 2020. When Blake Jarwin got hurt, Schultz stepped up and became a consistent and reliable target for Dak Prescott.
With four receptions in the first quarter, Dalton Schultz is the second tight end in Cowboys history to have 70-plus receptions in a season. Jason Witten caught over 70 passes in nine different seasons.
— Dallas Cowboys Public Relations (@DallasCowboysPR) January 2, 2022
The problem is that Dallas is already paying several players top dollar, which is why they are currently so far over the cap. The Cowboys also have Jarwin under contract for more than $6 million next season. If Jones wanted to keep Schultz, he’d have to entertain releasing Jarwin and others to be able to re-sign him for his hefty price tag.
PFF estimates that Schultz will get at least $35 million for four years in his next contract. Saving that money will allow the Cowboys to re-sign other key free agents. Schultz will hopefully continue to have an excellent career as a starter, but he will do so elsewhere. The one positive for Dallas is that they certainly won’t miss Schultz’s subpar blocking skills, and can probably replace him with a cheap flyer and better blocker for their two-TE schemes.
Dalton Schultz final 2021-22 regular season stats
- 808 yards
- 10.4 yards per reception
- Eight touchdowns
Seeing guys like Schultz go will be sad, but it is the only way to allow Dallas to keep guys like Michael Gallup, Randy Gregory, Jayron Kearse, Bryan Anger, or Cedrick Wilson.
