Analysis
3/20/23
2 min read
Texans Agree to 1-Year Deals with TE Dalton Schultz, RB Devin Singletary
The Houston Texans have reached an agreement with tight end Dalton Schultz on a one-year deal worth up to $9 million, per NFL Media.
The Texans further augmented their offense by agreeing with running back Devin Singletary on a one-year contract worth up to $3.75 million, per ESPN.
Schultz, No. 14 on The 33rd Team's Top 150 Free Agents, played on a $10.9 million franchise tender last season with the Dallas Cowboys and hoped to cash in with a long-term deal this offseason, but a down season in terms of production has him betting on himself in 2023.
After one week on the open market, Schultz found a new home and will spend his sixth season playing four hours away from the headquarters of the team that selected him with a fourth-round pick and developed him into one of the league's best at his positions.
Schultz had been the Cowboys' top tight end for each of the past three seasons, posting at least 500 yards receiving, 50 receptions, and four touchdowns in all of those years. However, his stats in all three categories dropped markedly from 2021 to this past season. Schultz's receptions dropped from 78 to 57, his yards went from 808 to 577 and his touchdowns fell from eight to five.
Early on Monday morning, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that Schultz had previously turned down a three-year, $36 million offer. Schultz's agent, Steve Caric, took to Twitter to refute the report as "100% inaccurate."
Schultz will step into the unquestioned No. 1 tight end role in Houston and have another shot to parlay this season's performance into a long-term contract. Meanwhile, the Cowboys will be on the hunt for a new leading man at the position.
Singletary, No. 125 in The 33rd Team's Top 150 Free Agents, has been a durable and consistently productive back during his four seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He has not missed a game during the past three seasons and has 956 yards from scrimmage or more in every season. In 2022, Singletary rushed for 819 yards and added 38 catches for 280 yards. Five of his six touchdowns came on the ground.
James Cook began to garner a majority of the carries for the Bills down the stretch in 2022. Singletary will find himself in another timeshare in Houston, however. Dameon Pierce rushed for 939 yards in 13 games as a rookie.
