The Houston Texans made a one-year investment last offseason when they signed former Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz. This has transformed into a multi-year investment (if his play doesn’t decrease) after re-signing their veteran free agent to a three-year deal worth $36 million with $23.5 fully guaranteed at signing per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
Schultz has been a solid receiving option from his years in Dallas with Dak Prescott, which transferred to Houston in 2023 with C.J. Stroud. Schultz was Stroud’s second-leading receiving option last season—he would’ve been third if not for rookie sensation Tank Dell going down in Week 11 with a lower-leg injury.
Schultz was a consistent producer for the Texans offense with Bobby Slowik calling plays. He caught 65 of his 93 targets for 715 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns, becoming a consistent and reliable contributor that made plays in the middle of the field, routinely.
Schultz stretched the field well between the hashes for Stroud last season. It shows on tape and with the numbers.
Dalton Schultz generated +21.1 receiving EPA on targets in the middle third of the field this season, 2nd-most among tight ends behind only Sam LaPorta (+23.0).#WeAreTexans https://t.co/UOVss4tRwZ pic.twitter.com/9X8UgTWLzd
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 5, 2024
This was a smart move by the Texans’ front office because familiarity for a quarterback—especially a young one—is important. Trust is not the easiest thing to build and when it is clearly there, you try to hang on to it if possible. Schultz will have even more free lanes for easier/advantageous access to space with a healthy Dell and Nico Collins at wide receiver in 2024. Also, if this does not work out, with the guaranteed money being front-loaded, the Texans could move on sooner than later.
The Texans are a team to keep an eye on during free agency because they have an abundance of cap space, a playoff roster, and a star quarterback at the helm. Houston should be aggressive and continue to build this roster into a championship-caliber team.
