The Cowboys have signed tight end Jason Witten to an extension that will keep him in Dallas through the 2021 campaign, the club announced. The four-year deal has a maximum value of $29.6MM, but doesn’t contain any additional guaranteed cash, tweets Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.
Set to earn a base salary of $7.4MM, Witten will count for $12.262MM on Dallas’ salary cap in 2017. That figure will not change, according to Archer (Twitter link), who indicates Witten’s cap charge will remain stagnant during the upcoming season. However, the Cowboys can still restructure Witten’s contract at any time to gain cap room.
Heading into today, Dallas was in the worst cap situation in the league, as the club had less than $2MM in 2017 cap space. While the Cowboys will pick up more room when Tony Romo is inevitably removed from the roster, the Witten extension could have handed Dallas more financial space. Surprisingly, Dallas opted not to give Witten a signing bonus that would have prorated over the next five seasons and lowered his 2017 cap figure.
From an on-field perspective, Witten’s extension allows the Cowboys to retain a still-productive tight end for the foreseeable future. 2016 marked Witten’s 14th season in Dallas, and the 10-time Pro Bowler posted 69 receptions for 673 yards and three touchdowns. He also remained remarkably durable, as he appeared in all 16 games for the 13th consecutive year (Witten’s only missed contest in his career came during his rookie campaign).
Witten will turn 35 years old this summer, so he’s now signed through his age-40 season.
Todd Archer of ESPN.com first reported the extension. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
“…While the Cowboys will pick up more room when Tony Romo is inevitably removed from the roster…”
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Such sheep.
link to profootballrumors.com
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Probably largely done to create space to pick up a safety, and have money to sign draft picks.
Witten class act and one of my favorites. Glad he will retire a Cowboy.
Sounds like he’s unwilling to stay in Dallas for another season, spook
Hey didn’t he have his first catch from a pass from Danny White? lol it seems like he has been there forever. I mean that with the utmost respect. I’m a Packer fan and even I know he is a class act and all around good person
This will not change the draft or free agency but it gives them some financial flexibility. I can see a safety in the near future.
I like the fact that they didn’t give him a big signing bonus and push more mon y down the road.. with dak on his rookie contract they can afford to eat wittens high cap hit this year and they won’t be hamstrung in the future.. There isn’t anybody worth it to spend the money on in free agency this offseason anyways in my opinion
Dumb contract.
Compared too?
Any. He’s old and washed up, it’s a waste of money. He’s a TE2 at this point in his career. He’s been on the decline for a few years now. It’s obvious in his play. But Jerruh Jones loves bad decisions so this was expected.