2023 NFL Draft: Could either of these players replace Dalton Schultz?

The NFL draft is a month away, and with the productive off-season the Cowboys have had thus far, they have plenty of options this April.

They lost Dalton Schultz to the Houston Texans in free agency last week.

He signed a one-year $9 million deal, significantly less than the 3-year, $33 million he turned down from the Cowboys a year ago.

As I’ve been looking over the draft board, I have seen a few players I would love to see the Cowboys take with the 26th overall pick.

The great off-season they’ve had will allow them to explore a bit. They no longer need to take a corner or a wide receiver in the first round.

As I look at the roster, outside of adding depth to the defensive and offensive line, a few tight ends have jumped off the screen at me.

Let me first note that if the team doesn’t draft a young tight end, the Cowboys will be absolutely fine with Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot this season.

The team drafted Ferguson last season in the 4th round. He showed flashes last season.

With that said, some of the latest mock drafts I’ve seen have Dallas taking a TE at some point.

One could be sitting for the Cowboys in the first round, while the other could steal in the 2nd or 3rd round.

Dalton Kincaid

Another Dalton is the first name to keep an eye on as a possible replacement for Schultz. Dalton Kincaid.

Michael Mayer from Notre Dame is the top guy prospect for the position. Still, Kincaid is the second best, Mayer should be gone before pick-26, and Kincaid is a great receiver.

He doesn’t block very well, but he caught 70 passes for 890 yards and eight touchdowns for Utah last season.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1638705871910838272

Kincaid did not patriciate in Utah’s Pro day last Thursday. He told reporters that he is fully medically cleared from a back injury in late November that kept him out of playing in the Rose Bowl.

Regardless, if Kincaid is at pick 26, I find it hard to believe that the Cowboys wouldn’t take him. I did not get to see much of him in college, and I live in Illinois, and Utah football doesn’t get much air time on TV out here.

I had to go back and look at some of his highlights and read up on him from some NFL draft insiders.

He fits all the pieces for the Cowboys, and it could be a nice combo between him and Ferguson.

Luke Musgrave

The Cowboys could find themselves in a spot where they could draft the 6-foot-5 pass catcher from Oregon State.

He is my fourth-best tight end in this draft, but he is slowly creeping up the draft board thanks to his Senior Bowl workout.

During his senior season, his 3.38 yards per route run ranks 10th among FBS tight ends. Just like Kincaid, his run-blocking needs to improve.

https://twitter.com/CamMellor/status/1621251999848140800

Look at the video above. See how easily he can get off his coverage and break free. He wouldn’t even have to lineup as a tight end all the time, and you can split him out wide and let him go to work.

Dak Prescott loves his tight ends, but those types of plays could change with Kellen Moore gone.

I don’t see him going in the first round, and if the Cowboys have a chance, they should try and steal him in the second if they don’t get their hands on Kincaid.

This draft will be fun. I am licking my chops to see who the Cowboys may add to an incredible roster they put together in March.