Blake Jarwin did well to capitalize on his free agency, signing a four-year deal worth $22MM to stay a Cowboy in 2020. Injuries have since disrupted the veteran tight end’s career. His latest could be a career-threatening setback.
Jarwin recently underwent a hip surgery that has his status for the 2022 season in doubt, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken, who adds this operation is considered uncommon for NFL players (Twitter link). Jarwin is not expected to be ready by the start of next season. This should point the Cowboys toward prioritizing free agent-to-be Dalton Schultz.
Indeed, Schultz is in Dallas’ plans, with Gehlken adding (via Twitter) the team is interested in retaining the breakthrough pass catcher. Schultz, who caught 78 passes for 808 yards and eight touchdowns, is expected to generate significant free agency interest. This could make him a tag candidate. The tight end tag is expected to come in at nearly $11MM. This would be a huge bump for Schultz, who totaled the most receiving yards by a Cowboys tight end since Jason Witten‘s 2013 season.
The PUP list or a release reside as Cowboys options for Jarwin, who has two years remaining on his deal. Jarwin would be due injury protection if cut, with Gehlken adding that would mean the Cowboys paying $2MM of his $4.5MM 2022 salary. Jarwin, 27, suffered a torn ACL in September 2020 and then encountered his hip problem in November of last year.
Schultz, 25, arrived in Dallas as a 2018 fourth-round pick. By making it to free agency, he would join a host of starting tight ends on this year’s market. Rob Gronkowski, Zach Ertz, Mike Gesicki David Njoku, C.J. Uzomah and O.J. Howard are among the unattached tight ends this year.
This sucks. Schultz is a turnstile while attempting to run block.
Easy to find a blocking TE for cheap. Not easy to find a receiving TE for cheap. Retain your in-house weapons.
TE is such an overlooked position.
Decent WRers earn twice as much as the best TE’s. Yet TE’s help protect the QB, often give him a passing option if nothing else is available and in comparison to WRers they don’t cause no where near as much issues.
Honestly don’t understand how these guys don’t get more recognition
Asking as a non Cowboys fan, what about Simi Fehoko? Any upside there?
Things looking different for Schultz. If Dallas moves on from Cooper and restructures Prescott there plenty of funds to cover the media hysteria over TE in Dallas.