Jason Witten retired yesterday, or over the weekend (despite Dallas' apparent attempts to get him to change his mind). He has a career awaiting him in the broadcast booth, like ex-Cowboys Troy Aikman and Tony Romo. Looking at the numbers from last year, it sure seems like it was time.
Witten was still a productive PPR player, especially in those FFPC leagues where tight ends get a point and a half per reception. He caught 63 passes last year, and only six tight ends caught more.
I'll always have a soft spot for him for helping me win a championship and some money a couple of years ago, thanks to a touchdown catch off a trick play in Week 16. Many will remember his long catch and run where his helmet was knocked off early in the play (which won't happen again, due to rule changes that require the play be whistled dead once the helmet comes off). Good times.
But those receptions went for just 560 yards, which works out to 8.9 yards per catch. Among tight ends who caught at least 30 passes, that's the 5th-lowest average in the league. Players who were worse include nominal receiving threat Jesse James, and also the only tight end who makes 35-year-old Witten look like a spring chicken -- 37-year-old Benjamin Watson.
| TIGHT END YARDS PER CATCH, 2017 (30+ RECEPTIONS) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | No | Yds | Avg | TD |
| Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 69 | 1084 | 15.7 | 8 |
| Vernon Davis, Wash. | 43 | 648 | 15.1 | 3 |
| Ed Dickson, Car. | 30 | 437 | 14.6 | 1 |
| Hunter Henry, LAC | 45 | 579 | 12.9 | 4 |
| Jared Cook, Oak. | 54 | 688 | 12.7 | 2 |
| Travis Kelce, K.C. | 83 | 1038 | 12.5 | 8 |
| Cameron Brate, T.B. | 48 | 591 | 12.3 | 6 |
| David Njoku, Clev. | 32 | 386 | 12.1 | 4 |
| George Kittle, S.F. | 43 | 515 | 12.0 | 2 |
| Seth Devalve, Clev. | 33 | 395 | 12.0 | 1 |
| Charles Clay, Buff. | 49 | 558 | 11.4 | 2 |
| Evan Engram, NYG | 64 | 722 | 11.3 | 6 |
| Zach Ertz, Phil. | 74 | 824 | 11.1 | 8 |
| Delanie Walker, Tenn. | 74 | 807 | 10.9 | 4 |
| Eric Ebron, Det. | 53 | 574 | 10.8 | 4 |
| Austin Hooper, Atl. | 49 | 526 | 10.7 | 3 |
| Antonio Gates, LAC | 30 | 316 | 10.5 | 3 |
| Jermaine Gresham, Ariz. | 33 | 322 | 9.8 | 2 |
| Tyler Kroft, Cin. | 42 | 404 | 9.6 | 7 |
| Martellus Bennett, G.B-N.E. | 30 | 286 | 9.5 | 0 |
| Julius Thomas, Mia. | 41 | 388 | 9.5 | 3 |
| Kyle Rudolph, Minn. | 57 | 532 | 9.3 | 8 |
| Jimmy Graham, Sea. | 57 | 520 | 9.1 | 10 |
| Jason Witten, Dall. | 63 | 560 | 8.9 | 5 |
| Jesse James, Pitt. | 43 | 372 | 8.7 | 3 |
| Jack Doyle, Ind. | 80 | 690 | 8.6 | 4 |
| Benjamin Watson, Balt. | 61 | 522 | 8.6 | 4 |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NYJ | 50 | 357 | 7.1 | 3 |
The Cowboys will be looking to replace Witten's catches with some combination of Geoff Swaim, Rico Gathers and Blake Jarwin. There was a story yesterday talking up Jarwin, an undrafted free agent a year ago. Gathers was a 2016 sixth-rounder who had a couple of highlights last preseason. Those are the players to watch in training camp.
Witten, we'll be watching in the broadcast booth.
--Andy Richardson