Why did Dalton Schultz sign with Houston Texans over Dallas Cowboys? Exploring tight end's shock free agency move

Dalton Schultz left the Dallas Cowboys to sign for the Houston Texans to show the NFL that he's worth more than the $36 million the Cowboys offered him this off-season.

It's common to see a sports star sign a minor short-term contract to set himself up for a massive long-term one. Schultz is just testing the waters and could do enough for the Texans to offer him more than the $12 million-per-year average he would have earned with the Cowboys.

It's early days, so it remains to be seen if the gamble pays off for the Stanford University alum.

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Why did Dalton Schultz leave Dallas Cowboys?

Dalton Schultz left the Dallas Cowboys to test himself in a different franchise and eventually build a solid TE1 career with a new team.

Yes, Schultz has only known one team, and that's the Dallas Cowboys, but no one said he must build his NFL legacy in Dallas. He was a member of the Cowboys for five years but never got selected for the Pro Bowl during his time there. Schultz could perform the Travis Kelce or George Kittle role for the Texans and their soon-to-be-drafted second-overall QB pick.

Dalton Schultz was a popular figure with the Cowboys, and you would never see the TE uttering negative statements about Jerry Jones' team. The Cowboys were the team that took a chance on an unproven tight end out of Stanford University, and they gave him the environment to become an 808-yard receiver. He joined the Texans out of necessity rather than out of spite for America's team.

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Dalton Schultz's Career Stat Line

Dalton Schultz was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2018 and served as a backup tight end in his first season in Dallas.

He played 11 games in his rookie season, putting up a stat line of 116 receiving yards and zero touchdowns for the year. His second season was more of the same, only that he appeared in fewer games due to injuries. Still a backup TE, Schultz put up a stat line of six receiving yards and, once again, zero touchdowns.

He broke out in his third year, becoming integral to the Cowboys' offense. Schultz hurled in 63 catches for 615 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He continued this form into his fourth NFL season, appearing in all 17 games, putting up a stat line of 78 receptions, 808 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

Schultz's last year with the Dallas Cowboys was average by his high standards, as he posted a stat line of 57 catches, 577 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Overall, he totaled 211 receptions, 2,122 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in 75 games. Not bad for a fourth-rounder.