Jets Country

This Cowboys' Injury May Keep Jets From Signing Top Target in Free Agency

With Blake Jarwin out of commission after hip surgery, the Cowboys might bring back Dalton Schultz, preventing the Jets from signing him in free agency.

Max Goodman

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Many believe Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz is the perfect fit for the Jets in free agency this offseason.

New York won't have an opportunity to sign him if he never hits free agency, though.

Injury news coming out of Dallas this week suggests that the Cowboys might be more likely to keep Schultz—re-signing the tight end or hitting him with the franchise tag.

Cowboys tight end Blake Jarwin is not expected to be available for Dallas at the start of the 2022 season after undergoing surgery on an "uncommon" hip injury, per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. added that Jarwin's career could be in jeopardy, calling the injury "unique."

After Jarwin, the Cowboys are left with Sean McKeon and Jeremy Sprinkle at the tight end position. In other words, if Jarwin won't be available, it's imperative that Dallas either brings Schultz back—holding on to their No. 1 option—or they start fresh at the position in the draft or free agency.

Plenty of teams will be monitoring this situation as free agency approaches. Schultz is viewed as one of the top tight ends set to hit free agency. Pro Football Focus ranked the 25-year-old as the second-best tight end from this year's free-agent class, behind only Miami's Mike Gesicki. 

The Jets could target a second-tier option in free agency—like David Njoku or Gerald Everett—reserving more cap space for holes at other positions. They can also use one of their early-round draft picks to secure a tight end. Colorado State's Trey McBride projects to be the first tight end to come off the board next month.

READ: Three Affordable Tight Ends the Jets Should Target in Free Agency

Adding a player like Schultz would have a huge impact on Zach Wilson and the Jets' offense, though. Between Ryan Griffin, Tyler Kroft and Trevon Wesco, the Jets had fewer than 500 receiving yards from the tight end position in 2021. In Dallas a season ago, Schultz set a new career high with 808 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, appearing in all 17 games. 

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher  of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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