The 4 most underrated Dallas Cowboys on Madden 23
. . TE. Dalton Schultz (82 OVR). 2. player. 123.
Skilled tight ends have become very valuable in the NFL but often get overshadowed by wide receivers. Players like Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce, and George Kittle have revolutionized the game and proved having a stud at this position on your team helps a lot.
Cowboys fans were sad to see the aging and downfall of future Hall of Famer Jason Witten. After attending the Witten school for tight ends in 2019, Dalton Schultz has made a name for himself. He is not on the same level as Witten right now, but we can see some familiar glimpses.
The 2018 fourth-rounder was arguably the second-most consistent tight end in the NFL last season, next to Mark Andrews. He had 40+ receiving yards in 12 games, more than Kelce (ten) and Kittle (eight). Schultz is not in the same tier as them, but that adds context.
The 6-foot-4 tight end excels against zone coverage, finding the gaps to give quarterback Dak Prescott an easy target. He is also aware of adjusting when Dak is under pressure to help support while on the run.
The Stanford product also holds his own as a blocker, the most underrated part of playing his position. The positioning and technique help pave the way for the Cowboys’ running backs.
The 82 overall rating sees Schultz rank as the 13th best tight end in Madden 23. Above him are T.J. Hockenson (89 OVR), Hunter Henry (84 OVR), Dawson Knox (83 OVR), and Tyler Higbee (83 OVR). All five players are comparable.
Of them all, Hockenson clearly shows why Schultz deserves a higher rating. Despite an overall difference of seven, the two have performed very similarly.
Since Schultz played in five more games, I will average Hockenson’s per-game averages to a 17-game span to get a better picture. He would’ve had 86 catches for 826 yards and six touchdowns. That’s not much more than Schultz’s 78 catches for 808 yards and eight touchdowns.
There are two main differences between the two players as receivers this past season. One is Dallas’ tight end has a higher catching percentage and much higher passer rating when targeted.
The other difference is America’s Team has a significantly better offense than the Detroit Lions. Hockenson didn’t have as much help, but Schultz had much more competition.
An 84 overall with the opportunity to solidify a spot in the top ten seems appropriate. Since he isn’t flashy, Schultz will need to continue being a consistent contributor. The opportunity for a more prominent role this season should also assist him in increasing his ratings.