Top 5 draft picks Cowboys can select to replace Dalton Schultz

The Dallas Cowboys don't always get it right when they play hard ball. For example, they cost themselves far too much money when they played contract chicken with DeMarcus Lawrence and Dak Prescott. Then, they went the other way and folded like a lawn chair when Ezekiel Elliott held out and paid him a ridiculous amount of money.

As bad as all those negotiations went, they seemed to have learned something. Maybe.

Over the past two seasons, they've had to make decisions on Dalton Schultz. In 2022, they elected to franchise tag the starting tight end but then in 2023, they allowed him to hit the open market. That resulted in him getting a $9 million contract with Houston, which proved they were right not to fork out the $10 million-plus deal he desired.

They also planned well by bringing in Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot in 2022 and now have a loaded draft class to choose another player from. Here, we look at five tight ends they can target to replace Schultz.

Cowboys TE prospect No. 5: Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State

Will McClay, the Cowboys vice president of player personnel, has often steered clear of small-school prospects early in the draft — unless they're special. One player in this class that might fall into that category is Tucker Kraft from South Dakota State.

A 6-foot-5, 254 pound redshirt junior, Kraft looks to be a complete tight end capable of blocking on the line while also giving his quarterback a massive and reliable target. He's also incredibly tough to bring down once he gets a full head of steam.

Kraft would likely need to be a second round selection for Dallas to bring him in. If they're willing to pull the trigger, he could be a lot of fun to watch in this offense.

Cowboys TE prospect No. 4: Payne Durham, Purdue

If Dallas didn't want to take a tight end in the first couple of rounds — which might be the case depending on how they feel about second-year pro Jake Ferguson — they could look for a mid-round prospect such as Payne Durham. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 253 pounds, Durham is a former lacrosse player that converted to football late in his high school career.

He spent four seasons at Purdue and finished his career with 126 receptions for 1,275 yards with 21 touchdowns.

He's not as athletic as some of the other stars in this class — evidenced by his 4.87 in the 40-yard dash — but he might be the best in-line blocker. He's also still a factor in the passing game, serving as a safety net that's capable of making big plays from time to time.

Durham could be a great option for Dallas should they believe Ferguson is a capable starter. If so, the former Boilermaker would be a perfect complement as a blocking tight end — whereas Peyton Hendershot can continue to serve as the pass-catching reserve.

Another positive in targeting Durham would be where he would land in the draft. Chances are high that he will be there on Day 3, meaning the Cowboys could fill greater needs — or simply package picks and go for a home run — while still finding a contributor at tight end.

Cowboys TE prospect No. 3: Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion

There are some intriguing prospects at the tight end position this year but Zack Kuntz might be the most exciting.

A former Penn State Nittany Lion, Kuntz transferred to Old Dominion and had a fantastic campaign in 2021. The following year, he dealt with a season-ending injury but then went to the NFL Combine and completely balled out.

Kuntz saw his name near the top of the leaderboard in nearly every drill as he ran a 4.55 in the 40-yard dash, reached 40-inches on his vertical jump, and added 23 bench press reps. All this while coming in at just over 6-foot-7 and weighing 255 pounds. Even those who watched his game film and knew he would impress during his workouts had to be floored by his performance.

Should Dallas elect to go with someone such as Kuntz, they might need to pull the trigger in Round 3. That would allow them to add talent at other positions with their first two picks but they also need to make sure they believe in Jake Ferguson as the starter.

While Kuntz could very well develop into a star, he didn't play against elite competition with Old Dominion. This means he might need more time to develop his skills — and adapt to the speed of the game at the next level.

If so, Ferguson will be counted on just in case Kuntz isn't ready in year one.

Cowboys TE prospect No. 2: Darnell Washington, Georgia

Darnell Washington is a tank.

Listed at 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds, he's a physical specimen who played with a bit of a mean streak as an in-line tight end. He does need to work on his technique but even with his unrefined play, he performed as well as an extra tight end for Georgia.

Of course, there was one area the Bulldogs failed to utilize him — as a pass catcher. In three seasons at Athens, Washington had just 45 receptions for 774 yards and three touchdowns. Most of that damage was done in 2022 but he still seemed to have much more talent than the numbers suggested.

That belief gained legitimacy during the Scouting Combine when he performed every drill with ease. He even had arguably the best catch of the week, snatching a pass one-handed along the sideline.

Dallas brought in the "freakish athlete" for a pre-draft visit and is clearly on their radar as a potential Round 1 pick. The question will be whether or not they believe he can be a contributor early.

It's one thing to add a player such as Zack Kuntz in Round 3 and give him time to work his way onto the roster. However, a player taken on Day 1 is typically expected to make an immediate impact.

The Cowboys are fortunate to have other tight ends so they might not have to be incredibly strict on this rule but they still would clearly prefer a rookie that can help them get over the hump this season.

Cowboys TE prospect No. 1: Dalton Kincaid, Utah

Speaking of Round 1 picks, that's exactly what Dalton Kincaid is expected to be. The Utah product went off in 2022 with 70 receptions for 890 yards with eight touchdowns, catapulting himself into the discussion as the possible TE1 in this class.

During his career with Utah, he didn't really spend a lot of time playing in-line but he's still a major concern for opposing teams in the passing game — and as Lance Zierlein of NFL.com says, he's going to help play-callers truly open up the field.

"Move tight end whose premium talent as a pass-catcher will be the primary focus for evaluators. Kincaid is a fluid route runner with the athleticism and play speed to create mismatches against lesser coverage. Impeccable ball skills and sticky hands allow him to tilt 50/50 contested throws in his favor. He lacks the play strength and technique to work in-line, but can handle some positional blocking in space from time to time. Kincaid can manage a more extended route tree, allowing calculating play-callers to open up the entire field and stress coverages. He will need to acclimate to a more physical/athletic brand of coverage, but should blossom into a weapon."

Zierlein, NFL.com

Kincaid feels like the closest thing to what Dallas had in Dalton Schultz. His size and speed are similar and while neither are considered studs when it comes to blocking, they more than make up for it with their skill in the passing game.

Having said that, Kincaid is coming into the league far more pro-ready and can be a difference maker from the moment he arrives.