Dalton Schultz spent a year with the Houston Texans, but does the impending free agent want to return on a new contract?
There aren’t enough outstanding pass-catching tight ends to go around, and impending free agent Dalton Schultz could be the finest one on the market. This will be the former fourth-round pick’s second year in free agency, having signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans the previous season.
After beginning his career quietly with the Dallas Cowboys, the tight end broke out in 2020, his third season in the league. Dalton Schultz was set to become a free agency after a stellar year in 2021 in which he accumulated 808 yards on 78 receptions. However, the Cowboys utilized the franchise tag to retain him around for another season. After a disastrous year on the tag, Schultz’s market collapsed, forcing him to sign a prove-it contract.
Well, he proved it. The tight end played in 15 games and finished the season with 59 receptions for 635 yards and five touchdowns.
While he’s no Travis Kelce, Dalton Schultz can be a solid second or third option in a passing attack, and the impending free agent has recently expressed a desire to return to Houston.
“I would love to be in Houston,” Schultz stated on SportsRadio610. “There is no dispute about that. I enjoyed my time. Special team, special quarterback. I adore the scheme, the coaching, and everything about Houston. I am confident that we can find some common ground.”
Dalton Schultz Gives Preferred Free Agent Destination
Dalton Schultz is not concealing the fact that he does not want a large free agent tour. In his ideal scenario, the player and the team will reach an agreement that keeps him in town for the foreseeable future.
For what it is worth, the Texans have the wherewithal to grant this wish. Houston presently has a whopping $65.4 million in cap space, which means they can comfortably afford to pay Dalton Schultz while also targeting free agents. The Texans need a player like Schultz, especially since the 2024 NFL Draft class is not expected to be strong at tight end.
All of this boils down to the fact that Dalton Schultz is unlikely to disappear. However, free agency can be unexpected turmoil, and while both parties are hoping for a reunion, there is a risk that Houston will go in a different way, or that another team will outbid the Texans for his services.
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Possible Team Fits
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are eager for another tight end. With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams potentially facing cap issues, Justin Herbert requires a reliable receiver. Gerald Everett is a free agent, and even if Allen and/or Williams return, neither player is in peak physical condition. During his tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Jim Harbaugh helped make tight end Vernon Davis a household name, while offensive coordinator Greg Roman leaned extensively on tight ends in Baltimore. Dalton Schultz is an ideal free agency signing, if the team has the funds to bring him aboard.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots enjoy the tight end position more than any other team, and that may not change even with Bill Belichick gone. The greatest issue here is that they don’t have a trustworthy tight end, with Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki both entering free agency. Even if head coach Jerod Mayo isn’t as fond of tight ends as Belichick, they need as many pass-catching players as they can find. With an incredible amount of salary room, the Patriots have the financial wherewithal to sign Dalton Schultz as a free agent while still retaining Michael Onwenu and pursuing a deep threat like Marquis Brown.
Tennessee Titans
Tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo was one of the league’s most efficient tight ends in 2022, although his success was based on a short sample. The 2023 season demonstrated that he is incapable of playing a larger role, as Will Levis sorely required someone to step up opposite DeAndre Hopkins. The Titans can improve Levis’ reliability as a receiver by adding Dalton Schultz as a free agent, allowing Oknokwo to return to a reserve position.
Carolina Panthers
Last year, the Carolina Panthers effectively chose Hayden Hurst over Dalton Schultz in the free agent market. In retrospect, that was likely a mistake. While Hurst is a good tight end, Bryce Young needs to improve his receiving ability if he is to live up to his draft expectations. Schultz alone will not cure this offense, but he is a terrific starting step in the right direction.
New York Jets
The New York Jets have Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, but not much else. Allen Lazard was a major free agent bust, and Aaron Rodgers will want additional assistance if this team hopes to make the playoffs. Dalton Schultz, a free agency signing, might replace C.J. Uzomah as Rodgers’ second or third option in the passing game.
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