The future hall of fame Dallas Cowboys Tight End Jason Witten is gone for good and Blake Jarwin finally has an opportunity to really prove his worth. Jarwin is the front runner to become the new starter but he will have some competition and a new coaching staff to win over in 2020. Which Dallas Cowboys tight end if not Jarwin has the potential to step up and deliver?
Jarwin was held back after a strong finish to the 2018 season. Jason Witten came back out of retirement in 2019 and many feel that he stagnated the growth of the Cowboys young tight end. Witten was a favorite of Jason Garrett‘s coaching staff and a more proven and reliable blocker compared to Jarwin. Those two things limited the opportunities for the more explosive Jarwin and he was kept from realizing his full potential. The same will not be true in 2020. Witten has signed on with the Oakland Raiders after the Cowboys showed little interest in retaining him. Blake Jarwin was then signed to a lucrative free agent contract. Clearly the starting tight end job is Blake Jarwin’s to lose. The expectation is that Mike McCarthy and his new coaching staff will not let any limitations that Jarwin has as a blocker keep them from using his big play ability in the passing game. This is exciting news for Cowboys fans who have been yearning for a departure from Garrett and the old guard who were insistent on having tight ends who were excellent blockers.
Jarwin is certainly in line to be the starter but he will have some competition. The Dallas Cowboys signed journeyman tight end Blake Bell from Kansas City. Bell will probably serve as the primary blocking tight end but he is a decent pass catcher as well. Third year tight end Dalton Shultz is also in the mix. Shultz was a highly regarded draft pick in 2018 although he will have to prove himself to the new coaching staff. Jarwin should become the starter but even still, I imagine somewhat of a rotation will be implemented.
Jarwin, Bell, and Shultz are the favorites to make the roster but Cole Hikutini, Charlie Taumpoepeau, and Sean McKeon are also competing to make the team. The lack of a pre-season due to COVID-19 does hamper any of their chances to make the team outright but the potential for players to opt out before the season begins or the possibility of an outbreak within the team could also allow for any one of these guys to get an opportunity. Additionally, and as with most depth position spots, special teams value is the key for any of these guys to have a shot of making the team.
*Photo by Joe Glorioso All-Pro Reels https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/legalcode
All Data and statistics obtained and verified from https://www.pro-football-reference.com/