Dalton Schultz Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Texans win big in luring Dalton Schultz away from Cowboys

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Mar 20, 2023 6:45 PM ET

Dalton Schultz will be wearing a new uniform in 2023 but won’t be leaving the state of Texas.

According to multiple reports, the 26-year-old tight end will now make the 239-mile trek south to join his new team after signing a one-year deal worth up to $9 million with the Houston Texans on Monday.

Franchise tagged by Dallas last offseason and essentially jettisoning Amari Cooper to Cleveland, Schultz ranked second on the Cowboys in receptions (57), targets (89), yards (577) and touchdowns (five). He reportedly passed up a three-year, $36 million contract extension from the Cowboys in order to test the market.

Texans worked out Dalton Schultz in March of 2018, but drafted Jordan Akins, who is five years older, 98th overall in Draft. Schultz goes 39 picks later to Dallas.

Five-Years-Later they sign Schultz, a beyond solid receiving TE and has been Dak's security blanket.

HUGE MOVE!
— Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) March 20, 2023

After playing in just seven games during his first two seasons in Dallas, Schultz totaled 198 receptions, 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns over the last three years. He has the fourth-most receptions among tight ends since 2020.

Houston hasn’t had a tight end record 60 or more receptions or 700 or more yards since Owen Daniels in 2012 (62 receptions, 716 yards). Jordan Akins, who’s no longer with the team but led all Texans tights ends in receiving each of the last four years, never reached the 40-reception or 500-yard plateau with the team.

With the departure of Akins and O.J. Howard, Schultz, who was the No. 16-ranked player at the start of free agency according to NFL.com, becomes the top tight end in Houston and joins Brevin Jordan, Mason Schreck and Teagan Quitoriano as the only tight ends on the Texans roster.

With Brandin Cooks now in Dallas, Schultz likely becomes a security blanket for whichever quarterback Houston presumably drafts No. 2 overall.

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

More must-reads: