Report: Dallas Cowboys make decision with franchise tag

Thursday at 4 p.m. ET represents the deadline for NFL franchises to place the franchise tag on upcoming free agent players they want to retain for at least the 2022 season. Three teams have already done so, with a ton of decisions to be made over the next day, including for the Dallas Cowboys.

According to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys are “seriously considering placing franchise tag” on tight end Dalton Schultz. It would cost them $10.9 million, per the franchise tag numbers released by the NFL earlier on Monday.

Schultz was one of the top targets for quarterback Dak Prescott last season, finishing just one catch behind CeeDee Lamb to lead the team with 78. He finished third in receiving yards with 808 and tied with Amari Cooper with the most touchdowns in eight. Among tight ends across the league, Schultz finished third in all of the previously mentioned statistical categories.

Dallas still has tight end Blake Jarwin under contract despite him suffering some injuries over the past couple of seasons. Jarwin still has two years remaining with the Cowboys, making $5.85 million in 2022 and $7.25 million the following season.

Randy Gregory was another player under consideration to receive the tag from Dallas. Now, there is a chance he could hit the open market as a free agent. Gregory broke out this season as an edge rusher, having six sacks, four tackles for a loss, and 17 quarterback hits. Alongside DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons, Gregory was a part of a revamped pass rush under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Potential landing spot named for Dallas Cowboys WR Amari Cooper

With Amari Cooper reportedly expected to be released by the Dallas Cowboys at any time now, where could the wide receiver potentially end up for the 2022 season? That’s the question many people are asking – and one NFL insider has made his prediction.

ESPN’s Louis Riddick joined SportsCenter on Sunday and named a noteworthy team as the landing spot that would make the most sense for Cooper as he moves forward in his career.

“I think this has ‘New England Patriots’ written all over it,” Riddick said. “They really need someone who has No. 1 wide receiver capability in the form of Amari Cooper, and you saw just in the video clips that you’ve been running – just look at this double move on this post here … they don’t have anyone that can do these kind of things.

“The issue with Amari is consistency. The issue with Amari is getting him to do this over 17 games. That’s really why two teams now have said, ‘Look, you’re good, but you’re not worth the money that we paid you that was really projected on you being a 90, 100-catch guy per year.’ He really just hasn’t been able to dial-in and tap into his athletic ability and his football playing ability at that level.”