Jason Witten's Future

[T-RO]

Jason Witten has enjoyed another outstanding year, contributing everywhere: on the field, off the field, in the running game, in the passing game, and of course in the locker room.

This man is on his way to the Hall of Fame.

Witten's isn't the same player as the 25 year old version, but if he has appreciably declined in the past five years...I sure can't see it. I'm not breaking down footage but my casual eye still sees a very good player. Maybe others can comment on this.

I dread to bring it up, but this question looms large. How much longer do you think he will be with the team? I don't have an answer but I may have it narrowed down a bit in my mind.

We all need to mull on a few things as I'm sure Witten and the Cowboys are...

-Jason has played 14 seasons and endured a million collisions

-Jason's good friend Tony likely won't be a Cowboy next season

-On the 2017 roster which is currently over the cap ...Witten's cap obligation balloons from $5.8 million to $12.2 million. His base salary jumps to a career high $7.4 million. 2017 is also the final year on the contract. The Cowboys could rework it but only by extending it's duration...essentially doing a new contract.

-It's painful to bring up and I'm not suggesting it, but if the Cowboys cut Jason the team would still be on the hook for $4.8 million (previous restructuring), but they would shed the $7.4 base salary without penalty.

-Reports are that James Hanna whom the Cowboys had slotted as their #2 tight end just underwent his second knee surgery of the year. It's been suggested the surgery may have involved the dreaded micro-fracture procedure. This type of surgery is only sometimes successful and usually requires a long recovery time. Hanna could be a question mark for next season.

-Gavin Escobar is an unrestricted free agent

-Geoff Swaim seems to have earned favor with the Cowboys brass, but his ceiling as a pass-catcher is a bit limited. I don't believe Swaim's injury should be any problem headed into 2017. I don't think anyone sees Swaim as the Tight-End Elect to replace Witten.

-The Cowboys are pleased with the progress of user-project Rico Gathers. He's an athletic beast but he's still an unknown.

So...what do you all think of the future of Witten and the Cowboys tight-end situation? Do the Cowboys cut him...extend him for 2-3 more years? How do they formulate their positional plans moving forward?

 

[theogt]

He has several more years in him.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

He has several more years in him.

Couple years, old fellow.

 

[dwreck27]

He'll rework his deal honestly see witten playing another 3 years... I can imagine his contract getting spread over 3years will looks good

 

[Idgit]

I think he'll play at more roles the level he's playing at now for several more years yet. Whether he'll do it in Dallas and/or remain at the salary he's making now is another matter.

 

[BoysWin]

Jason Witten has enjoyed another outstanding year, contributing everywhere: on the field, off the field, in the running game, in the passing game, and of course in the locker room.

This man is on his way to the Hall of Fame.

Witten's isn't the same player as the 25 year old version, but if he has appreciably declined in the past five years...I sure can't see it. I'm not breaking down footage but my casual eye still sees a very good player. Maybe others can comment on this.

I dread to bring it up, but this question looms large. How much longer do you think he will be with the team? I don't have an answer but I may have it narrowed down a bit in my mind.

We all need to mull on a few things as I'm sure Witten and the Cowboys are...

-Jason has played 14 seasons and endured a million collisions

-Jason's good friend Tony likely won't be a Cowboy next season

-On the 2017 roster which is currently over the cap ...Witten's cap obligation balloons from $5.8 million to $12.2 million. His base salary jumps to a career high $7.4 million. 2017 is also the final year on the contract. The Cowboys could rework it but only by extending it's duration...essentially doing a new contract.

-It's painful to bring up and I'm not suggesting it, but if the Cowboys cut Jason the team would still be on the hook for $4.8 million (previous restructuring), but they would shed the $7.4 base salary without penalty.

-Reports are that James Hanna whom the Cowboys had slotted as their #2 tight end just underwent his second knee surgery of the year. It's been suggested the surgery may have involved the dreaded micro-fracture procedure. This type of surgery is only sometimes successful and usually requires a long recovery time. Hanna could be a question mark for next season.

-Gavin Escobar is an unrestricted free agent

-Geoff Swaim seems to have earned favor with the Cowboys brass, but his ceiling as a pass-catcher is a bit limited. I don't believe Swaim's injury should be any problem headed into 2017. I don't think anyone sees Swaim as the Tight-End Elect to replace Witten.

-The Cowboys are pleased with the progress of user-project Rico Gathers. He's an athletic beast but he's still an unknown.

So...what do you all think of the future of Witten and the Cowboys tight-end situation? Do the Cowboys cut him...extend him for 2-3 more years? How do they formulate their positional plans moving forward?

3 YEARS IS MY BEST GUESS FOR WITTEN - to age 37.

 

[T-RO]

He has several more years in him.

So you offer to append two years to his contract?

Don't you have to scale way down on the base price we offer? Is he going to be worth over $6+ mil per season come 2018 and 2019?

Is anything less viewed as an insult?

It starts to get tricky as at age 36 and 37 we can't expect above average play can we? Do we write the kind of contract Jones has been rightly criticized for --one more sentimental than practical?

Very very few tight ends have played 15 or more seasons, especially one who is both exposed to lots of blocking duties and asked to get out and run brisk routes. If anyone can take care of himself and come to battle it's Witten...but there does seem to be the risk of a situation where the team is paying for fumes.

 

[bodi]

he has none

hes an old guy can't run any more - he catches the ball then is tackled

he will go with ROMO

 

[calico]

Letting witten walk would be like seeing D wade in a bulls jersey or something...

 

[SlimBig]

OJ Howard.
Let The Senator tutor him!

 

[T-RO]

Letting witten walk would be like seeing D wade in a bulls jersey or something...

I hear that!

Let me ask, just hypothetically, if Gathers really looked like a beast, Swaim was back for sure...and they felt confident Hanna could return to his old form by October...

AND...AND you could take the 7.5 mil of Witten's money (and likely some spare change under the couch) and forge a way to bring in a veteran pass rusher to anchor the end opposite Lawrence....would you entertain the idea?

 

[MileyDancer]

Well, considering we haven't drafted even a decent TE since Witten, hopefully not anytime soon

 

[T-RO]

OK it's time...The community here merits and demands the best and I must deliver all I can to serve my brothers and sisters.

So let me drop a bomb:
Who would produce more for the Cowboys team in 2017, Jason Witten or Martellus Bennett?

I'm not saying whom we all would like the most, but who could help the team the most.

Bennett's contract was $5 million this year. He's known as the best blocking tight end in the game. You would basically be adding another all-pro blocker to the maulers up front.

And if we compare receiving:

Bennett has been targeted 58 times and caught 44 passes (76%)
544 yards for a 12.36 average

Witten has been targeted 73 times and caught 52 passes (71%)
553 yards for a 10.63 average

Age
Bennett: 29
Witten: 34

Bennet is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Should we give Jason Witten 3 more years at age 35, 36, 37, or rethink this?

Could sentiment stand in the way of a juggernaut?

 

[Zman5]

You can't measure Witten's value to the team just by his on field production alone. Young players look up to him. JG tells his young players to just be like Witt. He doesn't have to have Gronk like stats. As long as he is productive, he should stay with the team.

 

[mattjames2010]

Witten will be here until he's about 37. What do we do till then? Despite the whining on this board about drafting TEs, you scout and draft a quality TE in the this or next years draft and start grooming along with giving that player some split playing time.

My guy? Right here. Reminds me of a young Vernon Davis. Engram is a guy you could move around and even place him on some WR routes, slot or outside due to his speed.

 

[stilltheguru88]

He does not have a couple more years. WHEN Father Time hits you it really hits you.........when you least expect it

 

[T-RO]

Adam Gase said this of Martellus Bennett

"He's almost as good as a lot of left tackles and right tackles in the NFL," Gase said, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. "He is that good of a pass protector."

Pass receiving production has been similar to Witten.

If we did the unthinkable and released Witten...we free up $7 million and avoid extending him into a period of probable decline.

We would then have money to sign Bennett and possibly have money left over to do something else.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Jason Witten's Future

Eventually he ends up here with a gold jacket.

 

[AzorAhai]

Witten can play for several years to come as long as he doesn't get hurt. He doesn't use athleticism to get open. He uses savy and great route running with his intelligence and his big body to block out defenders. He's not deserving of a 7+ million per year contract extension, but a 3 year 15-18 million extension this offseason works well. If that doesn't materialize, get OJ Howard on this team and watch him blossom into the next Jordan Reed.

 

[T-RO]

...you scout and draft a quality TE in the this or next years draft and start grooming...

What if the answer was a guy we already had the smarts to draft but failed to integrate into our team?

Did we learn something with Dak/Tony...that sometimes its best to turn the page....that Youth must be served?

I didn't start this thread thinking this way...but my mind is captivated with the need to at least consider bringing in Bennett and letting Witten go.