If they are looking for something in return for their star, the Dallas Cowboys can make a major deal.
The Cowboys may consider another option to trade Dalton Schultz, a tight end who was placed with a $10.9million franchise tender. Auman suggests that the Cowboys trade Schultz, if they are unable to agree on a long-term contract, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This would be the Buccaneers immediate solution to Rob Gronkowski’s retirement, which he announced on Tuesday, June 21.
It would be similar in nature to the deal that the Cowboys made with Amari Cooper to Cleveland Browns — a midround draft pick.
Auman says, “This is the swing for-the-fences solution to losing Gronkowsk.” Auman says that Schultz, 25 years old, has been a prolific receiver for the Cowboys in the past two seasons, with 78 receptions for 808 yards and eight touchdowns. Due to frustration over extension talks, he didn’t attend the last week of OTA trainings. He was awarded the Dallas franchise tag, which is worth $10.9 million.
Schultz had 78 receptions for 808 yard and eight touchdowns in the last season. These numbers are very similar to Gronkowski’s 55 receptions of 802 yards last year and six touchdowns.
Auman noted that Schultz sat out OTA activities for the last week to express his dissatisfaction over his contract situation. The 26-year-old tight end has until July 15 to reach an agreement on a contract extension with Cowboys. Schultz will continue the 2022 season as a tender if no new contract can be reached by that date.
Auman proposed this scenario: The Buccaneers, who have approximately $12.5 million in cap space, would sign Schultz for a four-year deal worth $50 million to lower his cap.
Auman says that it would take a mid-round selection to get Schultz out of Dallas. “Remember, they let receiver Amari cooper go to the Browns to receive a fourth-rounder as well as a pick swap.” To make it cap-wise work, the Bucs would have to sign Schultz an extension that lowers his cap number. Spotrac had given him a market worth of $50 million for four years this spring. This would be another significant commitment by a cap-strapped Bucs team.
These numbers are sensible from a market value perspective as Spotrac estimated Schultz’s worth at $12.6million per year over four seasons. In this contract scenario, Auman proposes that Schultz would earn $12.5 million each season.
The Buccaneers would be open to the deal if it cost only third- or fourth-round draft selection. However, this doesn’t make sense from the Cowboys perspective. It is indeed disturbing that Dallas might allow Schultz free agency in the 2023 offseason. They have left lCedrick Wilson and Cooper walk, but they aren’t letting Schultz go.
Todd Archer from ESPN stated that Schultz will likely play the 2022 season with the franchise tag. The Cowboys will take the risk of Schultz’s departure, even though they have Super Bowl ambitions. They won’t trade Schultz for pennies.