Since free agency began, the Cowboys have been connected to three different tight ends. John Carlson signed a lucrative deal with Minnesota, while Kellen Davis, the only free agent to visit Dallas, stayed with the Bears. Incumbent No. 2 Martellus Bennett reached a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the New York Giants.
As the Cowboys attempt to address all their major needs heading into the draft, the team still has options behind Jason Witten.
Among the best tight ends still available are Kevin Boss, recently released by the Raiders, Leonard Pope of Kansas City and Denver's Dante Rosario. Dallas Clark of the Colts is available as well, but the team is unlikely to seek a receiving-first tight end on the open market.
"We'll just continue to go through this process, evaluate our needs at all positions, and see who might be available, who might fit," coach Jason Garrett said of the tight end market. "Nobody really, specifically, right now, that we're talking about to bring in, but we're talking about a lot of different guys, watching tape, seeing if there's anybody that's interesting to us as we go along here."
The Cowboys liked Davis for his balanced game, believing he could contribute as both a receiver and blocker. While Bennett never lived up to expectations as a pass-catcher, he is regarded as one of the best blockers at the position in the league.
"Martellus did a really nice job for us in the role he had since he's been here," Garrett said. " He's an outstanding blocking tight end ... and he's grown as a receiver since he's been here."
Tight end could still be addressed in the draft. The Cowboys also like John Phillips, their No. 3 tight end since 2009.
"John's certainly a possibility," Garrett said. "He's been that No. 2 tight end at different times when Martellus hasn't been available to us over the past couple, three years. He's a guy that's done a real nice job on the line as a tight end, and also as a guy that can go in the backfield and play a quasi-fullback position."
