Between now and the start of the 2018 NFL season a lot of things could change for the Dallas Cowboys. They still have to get through training camp and preseason in order to determine who will end up making the final 53-man roster. Because of that, I thought I would shine a spotlight on a few of their players in order to get to know them a little better to determine what we could expect from them this year.
Today, I want to shine the spotlight on Tight End Geoff Swaim.
Under the Spotlight
I decided to put Tight End Geoff Swaim under the spotlight because he could be the player who replaces Jason Witten when all things are said and done. There are a few young TEs on the Cowboys roster who could and probably will push Swaim for the starting job though. Dallas' 2018 mid-round draft pick Dalton Schultz and last year's undrafted free agent Blake Jarwin are definitely under consideration. Then, there is fan favorite Rico Gathers, who really needs a strong showing in training camp/preseason to even make the team. For now though, this is Swaim's job to lose.
2018 Fit and Expectations
How Geoff Swaim fits in with the Dallas Cowboys in 2018 is undetermined at this point in time. Who ends up replacing Jason Witten is completely up for grabs, but Swaim might have the slight advantage due to his experience and knowledge of the playbook. He did backup Witten in 2016, but at this point in his career he has been mostly utilized as a blocker, leaving questions about how he will do in the passing game.
If the season were to start right now, I think the Dallas Cowboys would expect Geoff Swaim to be their starting tight end. He is the most experienced and is the only TE currently on the roster who not only has meaningful playing time, but has actually caught a pass in a game. If Swaim ends up becoming the TE1, I think 300-400 receiving yards and 3-5 touchdowns would be a reasonable expectation.
Contract Status
The Dallas Cowboys signed Geoff Swaim to a $2,334,732 four-year contract with $583,683 guaranteed 2015 as a seventh-round draft pick. He is currently entering the last year of that deal and will cost $2,261,850 against the Cowboys salary cap this season in 2018. It's probably unlikely he receives a second contract from the Cowboys with younger options on the roster, but that could change if he performs really well this year.
