Houston Texans pull the trigger on contract extension for critical playmaker
A DONE DEAL
05 March 2024
Dalton Schultz is staying with the Texans. Composite Getty Image.
With franchise tags flying across the NFL on Tuesday, the Houston Texans had an important decision to make about one of CJ Stroud's favorite targets, Dalton Schultz.
Dalton Schultz generated +21.1 receiving EPA on targets in the middle third of the field this season, 2nd-most among tight ends behind only Sam LaPorta (+23.0).#WeAreTexans https://t.co/UOVss4tRwZ pic.twitter.com/9X8UgTWLzd
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 5, 2024
According to Ian Rapoport, the Texans will avoid using the franchise tag on Schultz. He and the Texans have agreed to a 3-year, $36 million contract. $23.5 million of the deal is fully guaranteed.
On the surface, this looks like a good deal for the Texans, with Dalton Schultz being the best TE that would have been available in free agency had the Texans chose not to re-sign or tag him.
This is also a down year in the draft for tight ends, outside of Georgia's Brock Bowers. So the Texans made sure they weren't going to take a step back at the position by locking up Schultz.
Schultz finished the season with 59 catches, 635 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns over 15 games in the regular season.
It’s starting to look like the Astros knew exactly what they were doing.
What once felt like a risky move is quickly shaping up to be a win for Houston — and maybe a defining pivot point for the franchise. In this episode, we dig into how the Astros may actually be better off in the wake of the Kyle Tucker trade, thanks to a new wave of production and smart roster-building.
Cam Smith continues to rise with another eye-catching performance, launching two home runs and making the case that he’s already ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, Isaac Paredes has quietly emerged as a legitimate successor to Alex Bregman, offering power and presence in the infield.
And while Jeremy Peña wasn’t part of the Tucker deal, his 2024 resurgence adds even more fuel to the argument that this team is thriving — not surviving. The Astros aren’t just plugging holes. They’re planning for what’s next.
We also look at the bigger picture: What if Houston had moved on earlier from other aging or underperforming stars? Could they have been ahead of the curve even sooner?
So who’s really winning this breakup — the Astros or Kyle Tucker? We break it all down.
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