One possible Cowboys offseason mistake

[Verdict]

I thought the franchise tag was a good idea vs signing him to a long term deal. Give him a 3rd season of productivity to show what he's worth. Never thought his productivity would fall off a cliff, but clearly he's more valuable to a QB1 like Dak who trusts him. At this point the franchise tag is working, as the Cowboys made no long term commitment.

I would have signed him for less or let him walk and got a comp pick for his departure. He was not a dominant player. This situation is a good example of the Cowboys overpaying for average talent.

 

[Stash]

The roster is loaded as it is. They didn't make a mistake.

 

[okstateCowboy]

It appears Shultz has made a major mistake with this Board.........he got hurt. Shame on you Shultz. Get healthy. Blake Jarwin will let you know what an injury will do to you, here.

I think a lot of people are also tired of Schultz’s attitude, including me. He gives off massive d-bag vibes. His huge fumble against Cinci hasn’t helped either.

 

[Denim Chicken]

I have been of the mindset that franchising Shultz was a mistake. As the season has progressed, I am even more of that mindset.

I know he was Dak’s security blanket, but only because Dak can’t read the field that well. I think this was a case of wasted cap space and a younger player could have adequately filled Schultz’ role.

It's fine, they wouldn't have spent the money they saved anyway.

 

[JBond]

I have been of the mindset that franchising Shultz was a mistake. As the season has progressed, I am even more of that mindset.

I know he was Dak’s security blanket, but only because Dak can’t read the field that well. I think this was a case of wasted cap space and a younger player could have adequately filled Schultz’ role.

Hindsight is always fantastic.

 

[okstateCowboy]

The franchise tag was the best possible outcome. A long-term deal would have been a disaster. Him and Zeke will clear a decent chunk of space to sign our key defensive players over the next 2 seasons.

 

[OmerV]

I have been of the mindset that franchising Shultz was a mistake. As the season has progressed, I am even more of that mindset.

I know he was Dak’s security blanket, but only because Dak can’t read the field that well. I think this was a case of wasted cap space and a younger player could have adequately filled Schultz’ role.

They have the younger players already on the roster anyway, and the tag is for this year only and they didn't need the extra cap space, so where is the harm?

 

[CTcowboy203]

I’ve said the same and agreed with your opinion since last year. Schultz is a solid player who wants to get paid elite money based on stats he produces in this system where he’s surrounded by talent.

Hard pass.

 

[ColeBeasley11]

The roster is loaded as it is. They didn't make a mistake.

But I thought everything our front office did was wrong lol! That’s what everyone in here said.

 

[OmerV]

I’ve said the same and agreed with your opinion since last year. Schultz is a solid player who wants to get paid elite money based on stats he produces in this system where he’s surrounded by talent.

Hard pass.

He wasn't asking for elite money, just market value. In any case, as I said before, what has it hurt to use a tag on him this year? They didn't need the cap space and it's not like the team hasn't acquired young TE talent to prepare if they choose to move on next year.

 

[McKDaddy]

The roster is loaded as it is. They didn't make a mistake.

Oh yes they did. They should call Cleveland & tell them they can have the 5th round pick back. We won't even charge them anything for using Amari the first 5 games.

Put him back on the field and your offense is as good as you could have realistically fielded.

 

[McKDaddy]

It was the right move. At the time they literally had no one else, and he was coming off a big year so he had proven capable.

The wrong move would have been a big contract.

 

[quickccc]

Why was tagging Schultz for one (rental?) year a mistake ?
We did not re-sign Schultz long term.

And we already have that younger player in Rookie Ferguson who is not an established TE- nor Hendershot,
and it keeps Prescott's security blanket here just one more year.

Usually very durable, I'm more surprised Schultz is limited with the knee injury as he is.
Hate to say it, but the blessed part about his injury is Ferguson and Hendershot are better contributors
as more effective and productive in-line blockers, than Schultz who struggles in that area.

 

[eromeopolk]

I have been of the mindset that franchising Shultz was a mistake. As the season has progressed, I am even more of that mindset.

I know he was Dak’s security blanket, but only because Dak can’t read the field that well. I think this was a case of wasted cap space and a younger player could have adequately filled Schultz’ role.

Duh!!!!! You keep a top ten draft pick multiple Pro Bowl WR and get rid of an overrated TE.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

We lost Amari and Wilson. Gallup was hurt. Lamb wasn't a tried and true number one, so we needed someone to keep the continuity going. And that's where Brown and Shultz came in at. It wasn't a bad deal when the decision was made. It's just that Hendershot and Ferguson makes it look bad now.

 

[CTcowboy203]

He wasn't asking for elite money, just market value. In any case, as I said before, what has it hurt to use a tag on him this year? They didn't need the cap space and it's not like the team hasn't acquired young TE talent to prepare if they choose to move on next year.

market value for an elite tight end…

 

[kskboys]

I have been of the mindset that franchising Shultz was a mistake. As the season has progressed, I am even more of that mindset.

I know he was Dak’s security blanket, but only because Dak can’t read the field that well. I think this was a case of wasted cap space and a younger player could have adequately filled Schultz’ role.

OK, look at it from a different angle.

Schultz is a proven pass catcher, the only proven TE on the roster.

Why would you think it a mistake to pay him for one year while the rooks acclimate? A long term contract would've been a mistake, yes.

 

[kskboys]

Go away.

 

[kskboys]

I think the franchise tag way over values the player.

Absolutely.

However, it's also a valuable tool to give a team one more year to either evaluate or get a young player ready. And that's exactly what we did.

 

[Verdict]

Absolutely.

However, it's also a valuable tool to give a team one more year to either evaluate or get a young player ready. And that's exactly what we did.

Yeah. But did we need another year to evaluate what he “is” as a player? Didn’t we already have a large body of evidence that says he’s a good player, but doesn’t do anything worthy of the franchise tag.

I realize that the team was probably faced with either giving him the franchise tag, or letting him walk. I get the argument for tagging him. But I would have let him walk and received a comp pick for him rather than pay him tag money. But that’s just me.

Like Witten before him, he is getting lots of targets simply because that’s what defenses want us to do.