The retirement of Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten has left the Dallas Cowboys without their most reliable target in the passing game. It has also brought forth questions about who would step up at the tight end position to help fill the massive void Witten has left.

The Cowboys have continued to voice confidence in their current unit of talent at the spot being able to handle that increased responsibility in the 2018 season. Team owner Jerry Jones has now stepped into the discussion by stating that he doesn't believe that Dallas needs any outside help at this moment from a proven veteran tight end, according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.

“I like the group that we have and don’t see at this time [adding a veteran], but I reserve the right to change my mind,” Jones said. “At this time, I don’t see adding an additional veteran player to our group. I like the opportunity, the freshness of the group. I like the opportunity of the competition. We’re familiar. We’ve got new guys as far as our group is concerned in there. The makeup of that creates an atmosphere that I think could enhance how we play tight end.”

There are several options available on the open market that could be temporary solutions to the problem with viable names such as Antonio Gates, Marcedes Lewis, Julius Thomas and Brent Celek who can all come in and contribute right away. Each of these players could come in and become reliable targets in the passing game that quarterback Dak Prescott can lean on.

Even that being an option, the Cowboys look more than comfortable with rolling with their current group that includes James Hanna, Geoff Swaim, Rico Gathers, Blake Jarwin and incoming rookie Dalton Schultz. Neither one of these players aside from Schultz last season was able to post double-digits in receptions, which pressing the question if any of them can step up in that role.

It is something that only time will tell if the Cowboys have a feasible option with their current crop of talent at the position for the 2018 season.