For more than the last decade, Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten has been the one constant for the Dallas Cowboys at his position. However, he has begun to enter the latter half of his career now being in his mid-3os.
Although Witten has voiced that he hopes to be able to play until he is 40 years old, there is no certainty that will be performing at a high level at that point. With that in mind, he recently voiced that he completely understands if the Cowboys were to take a tight end in this year's draft, according to Jon Machota of SportsDay.
“I mean, I understand it,” Witten said of the Cowboys potentially drafting a tight end early. “It's happened a few times, three to be exact. That's part of the business. They're always going to bring in competition. That's what this program, that's what this franchise is all about and what this coaching staff tries to create.
“I'll help them and embrace them and moving them along as quickly as I can. That doesn't really affect what I'm trying to do as a whole.”
Witten has continued to remain a reliable asset in the passing game by recording 63 catches for 560 receiving yards and five touchdowns while playing in all 16 regular season games for the 14th consecutive year. He has notched more than 60 catches and more than 550 receiving yards in each campaign over that span.
What should be noted is that Witten is set to enter the first year of his restructured four-year, $29.5 million deal that he signed last offseason that runs through the 2021 season. This at least puts up under contract over the long haul while it gives them a chance to bring in a young tight end that could work under the wing of Witten and learn from one of the most productive players at the position in league history.
The Cowboys could finally look to hedge in this direction to find a player that could eventually replace Witten as the primary target at tight end down the line.
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