Predicting the Dallas Cowboys tight end depth chart in 2020
For the second time in three seasons, the Dallas Cowboys enter the upcoming year needing to replace Jason Witten. He retired following the 2017 season and the Cowboys were less than prepared for his departure.
With Witten out, they turned to Geoff Swaim, Blake Jarwin, and rookie Dalton Schultz — which came after fans finally realized Rico Gathers was not going to make the transition. The trio struggled and Dallas welcomed Witten back in 2019.
He wasn’t the same player we remembered from his prime but Witten was reliable when targeted. The veteran was not retained, however, when Mike McCarthy took over as the head coach and he ended up signing with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Now, Dallas turns to Blake Jarwin once again, but this time he seems more prepared for the increased role. But can he shine as a star? And who will back him up? That’s what we look at in this 2020 tight end depth chart prediction for the Dallas Cowboys.
Dallas Cowboys tight ends: The Starter
When Jason Witten first left, Blake Jarwin was entering just his second season in the NFL and wasn’t ready for a big role. He is now, and the Cowboys agreed as they gave him a three-year $24.25 million extension.
Blake Jarwin
Undrafted out of Oklahoma State in 2017, Blake Jarwin was considered a project player for Dallas. He spent most of that season on the practice squad, only being called up once the Philadelphia Eagles were reportedly sniffing around at him.
Jarwin appeared in one game but recorded no stats as a rookie and then played in all 16 the following season with four starts. He finished with 27 receptions for 307 yards and three touchdowns — all of which came in their Week 17 win over the New York Giants.
Last season, Jarwin was even better with 31 catches for 365 yards and another three touchdowns. He seemed ready to take the next step and it was apparent he was actually being held back by Jason Witten’s presence.
He’s the unquestioned starter in Dallas now and his ability to stretch the field as a pass-catcher is going to be huge for this offense. Still, we have to see if he can handle the pressure that will come with being the guy.