Dalton Schultz has played under the spotlight before joining the Houston Texans. During his five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, he often was used as Dak Prescott’s security blanket.
Last season at NRG Stadium, he was the same for the C.J. Stroud as Houston went from AFC laughing stock to contenders overnight. As a reward for his efforts, the Texans gave him a three-year contract worth $36 million to build off his promising first season with the other Lone Star franchise.
Schultz, who caught 59 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns en route to a division title, has been one of the league’s most consistent tight ends since coming out of Stanford in 2018. Even if his ceiling isn’t as high as George Kittle or Travis Kelce, teams know what to expect from the 28-year-old in the red zone.
So do executives, who recently ranked Schultz as the No. 10 tight end entering 2024 in ESPN’s latest poll per Jeremy Fowler.
“Schultz’s play isn’t flashy, but voters who value consistency value him greatly,” Fowler wrote. “He committed two drops on 88 targets, one of the top clips among tight ends.”
One AFC evaluator mentioned how Schultz’s consistency makes him an asset in any offense. He’s a jack-of-all-trades and a safe haven for quarterbacks when under pressure.
“He’s just an all-around good player, consistent, blocks, can make contested receptions,” the evaluator told Folwer “He affects winning.”
Texans motion to Empty and run a double move off the over the ball sit route on Hank! Love it.
And CJ Stroud proceeds to put the ball right on the money to Dalton Schultz. pic.twitter.com/or78j9BpFX
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) October 4, 2023
Last season among tight ends, Schultz finished 12th in receptions and receiving and seventh in touchdowns. He also was a legitimate downfield option for Stroud, finishing fifth among tight ends in receiving yards on targets 10-plus yards from the line of scrimmage.
Schultz stepped up twice last season for Stroud in must-win moments. In Houston’s comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9, he caught a career-high 10 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. In the wild-card round win over the Cleveland Browns, Schultz hauled in a 37-yard touchdown pass from Stroud just before halftime to help the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year make postseason history.
“He made play after play for us last year at very crucial moments,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said earlier this offseason. “I don’t think he gets enough credit for the leader that he is in the locker room and what he brings to our entire team.”
Even though Schultz isn’t regarded as one of the NFL’s elite tight ends, his production ranks among some of the league’s best. Since 2020, he’s one of five tight ends to rank in the top eight at the position in catches (257), yards (2,635) and touchdowns (22), joining Kittle, Kelce, Baltimore’s Mark Andrews and Minnesota’s T.J. Hockenson.
HOW?! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/2Xu85oBD28
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 17, 2023
Even in a loaded offense now headlined by breakout receiver Nico Collins and Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs, Schultz should continue to be a factor for Stroud and the passing attack.
“People know C.J.’s a good quarterback, people know Nico’s a good receiver, Joe Mixon out of the backfield,” Schultz said. “Nobody’s coming into the game thinking, ‘All right, it’s just the Texans. We got this.’ We understand the work we’re putting in now is going to be crucial to our success later in the year.”
