The tight end position was considered one of the Dallas Cowboys’ biggest needs for the 2019 draft, and yet they didn’t spend a single pick there. Does this indicate that the team already has high hopes for what Jason Witten’s return means, and are they putting too much faith in a 37-year-old coming out of retirement?
As you know, Witten decided to play again this season after spending 2018 in the Monday Night Football booth. His return to the Cowboys is a cool story; the Hall-of-Fame TE who wasn’t ready to let go of the game. And of course, we all want him to succeed.
But the reality is that Jason wasn’t all that effective the last time he suited up. His yards-per-reception were the lowest of his career, and we all remember those slow runs to the sideline after making a catch. Witten can still be a solid player in spots, but he’s no game-changer anymore.
Jason’s now two years older and unlikely to be anything more than what we saw in 2017, and there’s a good chance he’ll be even less. Given that probability, why did the Cowboys not try to add more TE talent during the draft?
Maybe it’s not about Witten but more Blake Jarwin, who finished last year as the starter. Jarwin has flashed some nice receiving ability but in very limited moments. Can he put in a full year of quality production?
Again, with thoughts of Super Bowl contention over the next few years, why are the Cowboys taking such a big risk?
There are many factors that played into Dallas’ decisions in last week’s draft. Maybe they didn’t love the available TE talent, and maybe they do think highly of Jarwin’s potential.
But part of me worries that they’re putting too many eggs in the Jason Witten basket. You could argue they already held on too long during the last couple of years of his career, not rotating in younger and more explosive talent.
What’s so surprising is that the Cowboys never hesitated to try spend draft capital on Witten’s backups. They spent second-round picks on Anthony Fasano, Martellus Bennett, and Gavin Escobar. They also used later-round picks to add guys like John Phillips, James Hanna, Geoff Swaim, and Rico Gathers.
But for some reason, when the need at TE is about as high as it’s been since 2003, the Cowboys left the position untouched in the draft.
I quipped in a recent article that the Cowboys better not be hoping Witten comes in like Mr. Miyagi or Obi-Wan Kenobi and teaches Jarwin, Dalton Schultz, or anyone else how to play their way into Canton. He can’t force any of those guys to become more than they’re talent levels allows.
The duo of Jarwin and Witten is intriguing, but how much better if Dallas has taken one of the better TE talents in the draft for Jason to help groom? Couldn’t the potential have been higher?
The Cowboys must not have thought so, and hopefully I am proven wrong by what Jason and the young tight ends accomplish in 2019. But if my pessimism is proven right, then Dallas’ delusions could cost them in the upcoming season.
I checked the calendar and it is May 2 so there is probably some time left to grab a TE if needed. You also have a crowded room of WRs with one who may get scratched from that room, Noah Brown. With his blocking ability and excellent routes, he could be a possibility at TE.
As far as Witten, I wouldn’t dismiss his ability to pass on wisdom since we can’t be sure of Jarwin or Schultz’s potential just yet. Jason and Romo were doing that with Rico when he first came aboard on the practice squad. Make players better makes the team better and everyone’s job a little easier.
My whole point is there is time and there are options beyond what this post contains. This was an interesting article that got me thinking and that is appreciated Jess.
Last I checked there have been no games played since Witten returned. To even write an article titled are they relying on Witten too much, tells me the writer has too much time on his hands . Let’s see how plays out and then say maybe mid season might be appropriate for a questioni like that.
Jess im a bit disappointed in the negative tone of this article. Jason Witten is a first ballot HOF’er and I’m pretty sure Dallas did not sign him to a contract just because they like the guy. Honestly, I do believe this is his last year and his stepping stone to the coaching ranks. You can put that in the bank. There were many writers and bloggers this year that kep beating the drum about TE being a big need this year but frankly after the first few guys, everybody else is a roll of the dice. I feel that Jarwin has huge potential and will surprise some folks. His progression is arcing in the right direction. I could care less about Rico and it’s time to lay all those experiments to rest. Schultz also has huge development potential. The TE position will NOT be a reason you don’t see the Cowboys in the Super Bowl so let’s drop the “Chicken Little” act and get ready for some great football!
The article poses a fair question but misses the point that first-year tight ends rarely perform that great, particularly in an offense like the CB that expects route-running and elite blocking. That includes Witten in his rookie year. Jarwin and Schultz both gained good experience last year and improved as the season wore on in both catching and blocking.
One important point missed in the article is that the CB decided to let Geoff Swaim walk and he was quickly picked up by the Jaguars. If the CB had major doubts about their young guys they would have retained Swaim even with this injury history. That he was a quality TE is illustrated by how quickly he found another contract.
I don’t think anyone has illusions about Witten’s ultimate performance, but you don’t need to catch long passes to be effective in the red zone where CB were fairly putrid last year. You need to be able to read the defense, get open enough and have great hands. Witten qualifies and that is where his most important contribution lies in 2019.