Cowboys free agent: Mike Gesicki’s deal signifies marketplace for Dalton Schultz

We might begin to see the tight finish market transfer a bit, and we’ll see the place Dalton Schultz goes.

• By
  
  RJ Ochoa
  
• on March 18, 2023 9:30 am

The Dallas Cowboys have been laborious at work thus far in free company and have, exterior of the commerce for Stephon Gilmore, actually centered on retaining their very own gamers.

Tony Pollard acquired the franchise tag and Terence Steele was given a second-round tender, and whereas these issues require some procedural motion, the strikes guarantee that neither participant can be elsewhere this season (in all probability, clearly something is feasible).

Issues are a lot easier for the likes of Donovan Wilson, Leighton Vander Esch, C.J. Goodwin and Cooper Rush, who’ve all agreed to return to the Cowboys (you possibly can see our whole free company tracker proper right here by the way in which). Among the many gamers that Dallas has not introduced again to this point is tight finish Dalton Schultz.

Wanting on the NFL as an entire, we’ve not likely seen the tight finish market be all too lively however that modified a bit on Friday. And it might function a sign for what we will anticipate from Dalton Schultz and no matter deal he in the end winds up getting.

Mike Gesicki’s cope with the New England Patriots might point out what Dalton Schultz’s market is

It was reported very early on Friday morning that free agent tight finish Mike Gesicki struck a one-year cope with the New England Patriots value as much as $9M. Gesicki coming to phrases on a brand new deal is critical due to a vital widespread denominator that he shares with Dalton Schultz.

Each Schultz and Gesicki performed beneath the franchise tag final season (a price of about $11M) but in addition coincidentally had considerably comparable seasons in 2022, Schultz with Dallas and Gesicki with the Miami Dolphins. Finally the purpose is you could assume that what Gesicki made on the open market is round what Schultz could also be .

• 2022 Dalton Schultz (15 video games): 57 receptions, 577 yards, 5 touchdowns
• 2022 Mike Gesicki (17 video games): 32 receptions, 362 yards, 5 touchdowns

There may be clearly extra to a decent finish than catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns, however on an especially superficial stage Gesicki and Schultz had comparable seasons whereas each on the tag. That Gesicki acquired a one-year deal “value as much as” $9M means that Schultz can be someplace in that neck of the woods, regardless that the tag worth for them each final yr was above that.

A commonly-suggested touchdown level for Schultz over the previous few weeks had been the Los Angeles Chargers provided that Kellen Moore is their new offensive coordinator and clearly has a historical past with Schultz. Only a few hours after Gesicki’s deal was reported although it was introduced that the Chargers are bringing again Donald Parham which suggests they aren’t a sensible vacation spot for him.

It appears inevitable that Schultz will take a deal decrease than his franchise tag worth of a yr in the past, clearly it stays to be seen who that winds up being with. Maybe if the market stays dry the Cowboys might re-visit discussions with him, however time will inform if issues shake out in that path.

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