Houston Texans star Dalton Schultz isn’t one of the more underrated tight ends in the NFL, but he could be flying under the radar entering 2026.
Since joining the Texans in 2023, Schultz has been the Texans’ most consistent weapon outside of Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins. He was a catalyst in helping Houston reach the playoffs in 2023 with his 59 catches and five touchdowns. Last season, Schultz broke the Texans’ single-season reception record (82) for a tight end and totaled 777 receiving yards, the second-highest mark of his career.
The Texans would love to have another option at wide receiver, but part of the reason for the offense’s success is Schultz. He remains a fixture in the passing game and should only continue to be a weapon for Houston entering the 2026 season.
But again, Schultz shouldn’t be considered underrated. He’s a middle-of-the-pack tight end in the league with upside to flirt with top-10 production every season.
Pro Football Focus would tend to agree, ranking Schultz as the No. 13 tight end for the 2026 season, just behind New England Patriots’ Hunter Henry and above Baltimore Ravens’ Mark Andrews.
“After Nico Collins, Schultz was quarterback C.J. Stroud’s favorite target in 2025,” PFF’s Dalton Wasserman wrote. “His 777 receiving yards were the sixth-most in the NFL, as were his 362 yards after the catch. Schultz also only dropped one of his 83 catchable targets all season.”
Consistency has been key for Schultz during his tenure in Houston. Quietly, Schultz’s yards after the catch were impressive, despite one of the downsides people had looking at his stats to close out the year. He also has only dropped three balls on catchable passes over the past three seasons, so there’s a built-in trust factor with Schultz among his quarterback, most notably Stroud.
In three seasons, few quarterbacks have relied on their tight end play more than Stroud with Schultz. This offseason, the Texans built a game plan around upgrading the room as a whole, drafting Michigan’s Marlin Klein in the second round and signing former New Orleans Saints starting blocking tight end Foster Moreau.
While there is no shortage of weapons at wide receiver, including Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel and Collins, Schultz will once again be a chain-mover and focal point in the passing attack. Even if the league never views him as a top pass-catcher at the position, his production would warrant more respect.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans’ Dalton Schultz considered ‘underrated’ tight end entering 2026 season
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cole Thompson, Texans Wire | USA TODAY Network
