The emergence of tight end Dalton Schultz is both a gift and a curse for the Dallas Cowboys. Schultz has become the Cowboys TE1 and one of the better tight ends in the league. The challenge for the Cowboys is Schultz is a free agent after the season and his play has skyrocketed his value.

Schultz is headed for a sizable raise from his $2.18 million salary that is part of bargain four-year, $2.9 million contract. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the emergence of Schultz may prompt the Cowboys to release Blake Jarwin this offseason.

“I think [Chargers receiver Mike Williams] will get franchised if he has a big season. (Mike Gesicki might also fall into this boat.) The same might not be true for Schultz, who plays for a Cowboys team with big investments just about everywhere else on offense,” Barnwell detailed on November 11. “Dallas could cut Blake Jarwin to keep Schultz, who since entering the starting lineup in Week 2 of last season ranks sixth in the NFL in receiving yards among tight ends.

“Schultz got some help from playing alongside great receivers, but he also didn’t have Dak Prescott for most of that stretch. If he keeps this up, he’s looking at more than $10 million per season on the open market.”