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FRISCO, TX — For years, the Dallas Cowboys were on the search for the successor to future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten. It led to a solid stint between Dalton Schultz and quarterback Dak Prescott before the emergence of former fourth-round pick Jake Ferguson, and in short order, that led to the team parting ways with Schultz after the 2022 season.
A franchise tag kept Schultz in tow that year, but there's no need to concern yourself with such a move at the position in 2025, and for a very simple reason — as you'll see below.
As a matter of fact, as far as where the Cowboys stand currently at tight end, things are far more predictable and concrete than at nearly any other position on the field heading into free agency this time around.
[FYI: *Be sure to check out the entire ‘What’s Next?*' series as a primer to this one.]
What's Here:
Well, everyone who is currently here is still under contract, so there's that.
Seeing as there are literally no tight ends on the Cowboys' roster set to see their respective agreement expire in 2025, I'll move right into the outside options, not that there are a ton of those that make sense for Dallas.
What's Out There:
Note: These players will be unrestricted on March 13, barring a newly-signed deal with their incumbent team prior to that date.
Austin Hooper: Don't forget this is a former third-round pick (2016) turned two-time Pro Bowler for the Atlanta Falcons, earning another nod in 2019. I'm hard-pressed to believe there's been some massive and swift decline in the abilities of the former All-Pac 12 tight end, and instead point at the fact he was signed to a Browns' roster with QB flux in 2022, followed by the Raiders in 2023 (I mean, come on) and his uptick for the Patriots last season proves my point.
He reeled in 678 receiving yards through his two down seasons, 475 yards and three touchdowns in 2024, and his friendship with Dak Prescott could only help them hit the ground running — also providing very capable veteran insurance against injury.
Jordan Akins: There are admittedly slim pickings at tight end in free agency when you view what they already have in the building and where the fit for an incoming veteran would jive with then pending cost, and that's why the two honorable mentions below are simply that: honorable mentions. It's also why you don't see names like Tyler Conklin and Juwan Johnson on this list.
But, for Akins, it's a sweet spot he could very well be an option to be dropped into as a 32-year-old who produced respectable numbers last season as a rotational guy — 390 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 40 catches (9.8 yards per catch) in only six starts — and whose cost would be on the lower end of the salary scale for 2025.
Honorable Mention: Zach Ertz, Mike Gesicki
