The Dallas Cowboys finally made a significant signing with free agency set to open in March 18th and the legal tampering period now open for the NFL. However, it's not one of the players that everyone's been clamoring to sign. It's Blake Jarwin.
Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Dallas Cowboys have signed restricted free agent Blake Jarwin to a 3-year extension worth up to $24.25 million total and $9.25 million guaranteed.
The #Cowboys are signing TE Blake Jarwin to a 3-year extension worth up to $24.25M, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. He gets $9.25M guaranteed.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020
The guaranteed number isn't huge, but the potential earnings for Blake Jarwin put him in the top 20 of tight ends in terms of average annual value. With Austin Hooper's new contract in Cleveland and Hunter Henry franchise tagged by the Los Angeles Chargers, Blake Jarwin's average annual value ranks him 16th in the NFL at the tight end position.
This signing was inevitable after the Dallas Cowboys placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on Jarwin.
It was evident that Blake Jarwin was on the rise over the last 17 games. In the season finale against the New York Giants in 2018, Jarwin rallied more than 100 yards receiving and three touchdowns in the Cowboys win. He followed that performance with a solid 2019 campaign despite playing less than 40% of the snaps.
Though he didn't have the numbers that starting Tight End Jason Witten had, Jarwin was easily the more dynamic player and made big plays every time he got on the field. Blake Jarwin's speed, athleticism, and ability to make plays after the catch showed up time and again.
By signing this deal that has the potential to pay Blake Jarwin a significant amount over the next four years, the Cowboys are buying into his ability to be the team's starting tight end in 2020 and the future.
Updated at 1:35 pm Central Time:
To correct the earlier report, it appears that the three years is being tacked on to the Restricted Free Agent year that had him under the Cowboys control for 2020. So, the total appears to be four years for $24.25 million, or a little more than $6 million a year.
