Dallas Cowboys: 5 Players who need more playing time in 2019

1. Dalton Schultz, TE

Last but not least is rookie tight end Dalton Schultz, who was selected in the fourth round of the draft last season out of Stanford. After seeing Jason Witten retire suddenly, Dallas elected to wait on selecting a tight end despite some belief they could go after someone such as Dallas Goedert who ended up with the Philadelphia Eagles.

As for Schultz, he came in with much less fanfare but was still a good prospect nonetheless — although it was his ability as a blocker that really stood out. Schultz excelled in this area, which appealed to the Dallas coaches but had just 55 receptions for 555 yards and three touchdowns in his three seasons with the Cardinals.

During his rookie campaign, he continued with that same trend. Schultz displayed skill as a blocker and took some time to become an option in the passing game. It took him until Week 7 to record his first career catch, and never had more than three in a single game. His best performance as a receiver came in their Week 14 overtime win against the Eagles where he had three receptions for 37 yards — while doing most of his damage in the final period.

In all, Schultz had 12 receptions for 116 yards but showed soft hands and decisiveness once he caught the ball. Next season, there needs to be a better effort to get him involved in the game so he can continue to develop.

Tight end is often considered a difficult position to master as players transition from the collegiate ranks to the pros. With a season of work now at his disposal, 2019 can be a big year for the young man.