Dallas Cowboys: 5 Free agent tight end targets who could start in 2019

Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 12: Blake Jarwin #89 of the Dallas Cowboys makes a catch for a first down in the first quarter against Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 12: Blake Jarwin #89 of the Dallas Cowboys makes a catch for a first down in the first quarter against Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

While Dalton Schultz and Blake Jarwin improved down the stretch, the Dallas Cowboys could still look at free agents to start ahead of these two young players

During this past offseason, there were two primary storylines for the Dallas Cowboys — and both revolved around pass catchers. The first talking point, and most dominant, was how they would address their gaping hole at wide receiver.

After releasing wide receiver Dez Bryant, there were no players on the team that commanded the respect of the defense as a No. 1 wideout would. Dallas believed they could survive with a committee approach, which quickly proved to be wrong.

Eventually, they traded for Amari Cooper as they admitted their error in judgment. While his arrival brought closure to this topic, their other offseason storyline centered around the tight end position.

For years Jason Witten manned that spit for the Cowboys and they never had to think twice about it. Witten is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and was also one of the more durable players in team history as he missed just one game in his career which came during his rookie season of 2003.

Then just ahead of the 2018 NFL Draft, Witten decided to hang up his cleats and took a job calling Monday Night Football games for ESPN. Possibly due to the late timing of his retirement, the Boys did little to replace Witten and again find themselves needing to consider making a move in free agency this year.

While they do have some young guys developing in Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz, Dallas could look to the open market for someone to start as they continue to work with these young players. With that in mind, here are five free agents who could start at tight end for the Cowboys in 2019.