With a three day celebration of football getting underway last night from AT&T Stadium at the 2018 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys came away without addressing their pressing needs at both wide receiver and left guard. Now entering day two with Leighton Vander Esch already selected, the Cowboys have a Hall of Fame sized hole on the roster.
This morning, it was reported that Tight End Jason Witten will retire from the National Football League after 15 years with the Dallas Cowboys. Witten will follow in the footsteps of the quarterback he played the most games for, CBS Sports' Tony Romo, as he departs for the vacant analyst position with ESPN's Monday Night Football.
Jason Witten is planning to retire after 15 years to join ESPN's new Monday Night Football broadcast team as a lead analyst but will meet today with owner Jerry Jones before making his decision final, per sources.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) April 27, 2018
This day was always coming soon for the Cowboys. Saying goodbye to a team legend that the Cowboys were never able to reach the Super Bowl with was never going to be easy though, and even with today's draft bringing new and exciting players, there will be a dark cloud over Dallas.
Witten's production had steadily declined in recent seasons, but his commitment to being Jason Garrett's perfect “right kind of guy” never wavered. Catching only 63 passes from Dak Prescott in 2017, Witten recorded just one season with fewer receptions in 15 years – his rookie campaign of 2003.
The Dallas Cowboys will never be in the market to replace Jason Witten.
Even with this news coming in the middle of a draft, giving the Cowboys a chance to add a dynamic tight end that better fits their new-look offense, Witten's total impact on America's Team will be felt for a very long time.
Jason Witten remaining in the public eye with Monday Night Football may feel awkward at first for Cowboys fans that embraced the TE as theirs for so many years. We wish Jason the best of luck in his new broadcasting career.
See you in Canton, #82.
