Stephen Jones opens up about Dallas Cowboys tight ends room after departure of Dalton Schultz

The Dallas Cowboys have shown signs this offseason of being in the market for an early-round tight end in next week’s NFL draft. Executive vice president Stephon Jones addressed the state of the Cowboys’ tight end room on Tuesday in an interview with 105.3 The Fan. His response was a further indication that the team is eyeing a new addition.

“Obviously you lose a Dalton Schultz, we drafted (Jake) Ferguson last year and ended up with great value with (Peyton) Hendershot,” Jones said. “We feel good about that position.”

“But certainly … the draft is heavy (at TE),” he continued. “There are quite a few players in those top 3-4 rounds that we think can be like a Ferguson or Hendershot and come in and really help us.”

Dalton Schultz spent the first five seasons of his career with the Cowboys after they nabbed him in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Heading into free agency this offseason, Dallas opted to franchise tag Tony Pollard instead of Schultz, pushing the tight end toward the free agency market, and eventually the Houston Texans.

He totaled 198 catches, 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns over the past three regular seasons after making only 13 catches over his first two. He ended the postseason with 12 catches, 122 yards, and three touchdowns in two games.

Last season, backups Ferguson and Hendershot combined for 30 receptions and 277 yards with four scores.

Schultz’s departure leaves a huge hole in the Cowboys’ offense but the team’s scouts have had their eyes on potential replacements for weeks now.

As well as the draft’s top tight ends like Dalton Kincaid and Michael Mayer, Dallas has hosted Georgia‘s Darnell Washington, South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft, Alabama‘s Cameron Latu and Oklahoma‘s Brayden Willis for top-30 visits.

More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft takes place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event location this year is the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

Following two trades that cost them two fifth-round compensatory picks (No. 161, No. 169), these are the seven draft picks left on the Cowboys board for April.

• Round 1, No. 26
• Round 2, No. 58
• Round 3, No. 90
• Round 4, No. 128
• Round 5, No. 176*
• Round 6, No. 212*
• Round 7, No. 243

*denotes compensatory pick