Before free agency opened, the Houston Texans had always wanted to sign tight end Dalton Schultz back. He is now committed through the 2026 campaign. A three-year, $36 million deal between Schultz and the Texans was reached shortly before the franchise tag deadline. At the NFL Scouting Combine, sources told TexansDaily.com that the two parties were seeking to complete a deal before the tampering period on March 11.
KPRC2 Sports reports that Schultz will receive completely guaranteed base wages of $11 million and $5 million in 2025 and 2024, respectively. He will be entitled to a non-guaranteed basic salary of $11 million in 2026. Barring a trade, Schultz will be in the lineup through at least the 2025 season because the first two years of his deal are completely guaranteed. The 27-year-old may decide to pursue another short-term extension if his campaign is successful the following season, which would increase his value from the projected $11 million in 2026.
Last summer, Schultz signed a one-year, $6.25 million contract to join the AFC South team, following five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Under Bobby Slowik, he established himself as a mainstay of the passing attack and served as a safety net for Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate C.J. Stroud. Schultz caught 59 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games. A career-best 10.8 yards per reception was also recorded by the former Standford standout. In the Week 9 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Schultz had his greatest performance, snagging 10 receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown. In the AFC Wild-Card Round victory over the Cleveland Browns, he also grabbed a 37-yard touchdown throw from Stroud in the second quarter.
At last week’s combine, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said of Dalton, “He did a really nice job for us in the passing game on those two-minute drives where we were able to win a few games.” “Dalton played a great situational football game. He appeared and made huge receptions for us on the third down.” Schultz tied for seventh place in touchdowns and finished 12th among tight ends in receiving yards and receptions during the previous campaign. In addition, he was one of just eight tight ends to end a game with more than 100 receiving yards.
Since 2020, Schultz is eighth in receiving yards (2,635) and top-five among tight ends in receptions (257) and touchdowns (22). Along with Travis Kelce of Kansas City and TJ Hockenson of Minnesota, he is one of just three tight ends to have 50 or more catches and 500 or more receiving yards in each of the previous four seasons.
