Could Patriots Poach Dalton Schultz From Texans in Free Agency?

The Houston Texans could be on the verge of losing their top tight end, Dalton Schultz, to free agency, and the New England Patriots could be a fit.

The Houston Texans are set to lose many of their standout veterans to free agency this spring, including some key offensive weapons.

One of those weapons that is set to become a free agent this week - tight end Dalton Schultz - was a top pass catcher for star quarterback C.J. Stroud.

And per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the New England Patriots could be a suitor for the Texans pass catcher.

"Dalton Schultz didn't get his big payday last year due to a deep tight end class, but it should come this time after a good season with the Texans," Fowler wrote. "Enough teams expect him to clear $10 million per year. New England is one to watch here potentially, as is a return to Houston. The Seahawks' Noah Fant will also do well."

Schultz, who came to the Texans as a free agent last offseason from the Dallas Cowboys, signed a one-year $6.25 million deal with Houston and performed admirably, catching 59 passes on 88 targets for 635 yards and five scores in 15 games with eight starts. 

Currently, Schultz is still a candidate for the franchise tag. That said, other candidates such as Jonathan Greenard could be more suitable for the price. 

Will Texans Use Franchise Tag Ahead of March Deadline?

Under the tag, Schultz would make around $12 million for one season. And while Greenard would carry a heftier price at around $23.3 million, the value at his position is far greater, especially considering his career-best production in 2023. 

That said, Texans GM Nick Caserio will continue to weigh his options. 

"It's really a fixed number — anytime you assign a tag to a player, it's essentially, you're committed to that value," Texas GM Nick Caserio said. "It doesn't mean you can't work out a long-term contract extension with that player, but it's sort of a fixed number. 

"I would say kind of like I talked about a little bit earlier, it's almost a starting point in a negotiation. So, you have to figure out is that valuable, does that make sense, or let the player get to the open market, let the market dictate what the value is."