Dalton Schultz, Leighton Vander Esch, Cowboys Free Agents' Projected Contracts

The Dallas Cowboys have already started working on building their roster for 2023 by franchise-tagging Tony Pollard. Now they'll start the work of addressing their other in-house free agents.

Last year, the Cowboys had to make some really hard decisions with a free-agent class that featured several key contributors. They ended up losing important players like Randy Gregory, Connor Williams and Cedrick Wilson Jr.

This year, the class isn't quite as extensive. Pollard was one of the most important players in the group. It would have been hard to watch him walk away after his breakout season, but the franchise tag will at least make sure he comes back on a one-year deal worth $10.1 million.

If Dallas doesn't come to terms on a long-term agreement, it's going to hamstring its ability to bring back some of its other talented free agents, though.

Here's a look at what contracts for the other big names in their class might look like.

TE Dalton Schultz

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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 13: Dalton Schultz #86 of the Dallas Cowboys dives past Adrian Amos #31 of the Green Bay Packers while scoring a touchdown during the second quarter at Lambeau Field on November 13, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Dalton Schultz was the recipient of the franchise tag last season. He returned on the heels of a breakout season in which he had 78 receptions for 808 yards and eight touchdowns.

The encore season leaves his future in Dallas in question, though. The tight end failed to have a similar impact, catching 64 percent of his targets for 577 yards and five touchdowns.

Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN reported that it's likely the Cowboys will let Schultz walk in free agency.

It makes sense. The team has prepared for his departure by drafting Jake Ferguson in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, while Peyton Hendershot and Sean McKeon each got some playing time last season.

Schultz, 26, is bound to have a strong market, though. Spotrac projects his contract to be a four-year deal worth $60.6 million based on his age and production.

That would be much larger than any contract a free-agent TE got last year. C.J. Uzomah led the market with a three-year, $24 million pact.

However, the free-agent class of tight ends is short on proven options that are of Schultz's caliber, and the Jaguars already took Evan Engram off the market with the franchise tag.

Projected Contract: Four years, $55.4 million.

LB Leighton Vander Esch

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 11: Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after a third down stop in the first half of a game against the Houston Texans at AT&T Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Leighton Vander Esch had a surprisingly small market in 2022 free agency. He had a good year in 2021, proving he could stay healthy and providing steady play within his role as a linebacker.

Yet, the Boise State product came back to Dallas on a one-year prove-it deal worth just $2 million.

It's safe to say he outperformed that deal in 2022. He finished the year ranked 23rd out of the 81 linebackers graded by PFF. He did suffer a shoulder injury, but he came back to play two games in the playoffs, registering 20 tackles in the process.

The problem for Vander Esch this time around is that it could be a deep class of off-ball linebackers. Lavonte David, Tremaine Edmunds and David Long Jr. could all be looking for new contracts and could push Vander Esch down the pecking order.

Still, he's 27 years old and could be a valuable addition to a lot of defenses. He isn't going to set the market, but it isn't hard to envision him getting a two- or three-year contract with a nice pay raise.

Myles Jack drew a two-year, $16 million contract from the Steelers. Vander Esch has proved to be a capable starter and is nearly the same age.

Projected Contract: Two years, $13 million

Edge Dante Fowler Jr.

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 2: Dante Fowler #56 of the Dallas Cowboys looks over the offense during a game against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium on October 2, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Commanders 25-10. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

When the Cowboys lost Randy Gregory, they had to find pass rush production on the cheap. They did just that when they signed Dante Fowler Jr. to a one-year, $2.9 million deal.

Fowler was third on the team in sacks with six. That's impressive production for a player who logged just 29.9 percent of the defensive snaps.

If the Cowboys want him to be part of their stable of pass-rushers now, though, they are going to have to pay up.

The 28-year-old was essentially forced to sign a prove-it deal coming off a two-season stretch with the Atlanta Falcons where he had 7.5 sacks combined.

Now that he's proved he can still produce at a high level, he's going to have a bigger market. Spotrac projects his market value will be a two-year deal worth $14 million.

That's a far cry from the five-year, $70 million contract Gregory got last year, but it's still a considerable investment for a Cowboys team that figures to have a financial tightrope to walk.

Fowler will likely get something close to his projected market value, but the Cowboys are better off finding their next reclamation project than paying the one who just panned out.

Projected contract: Two years, 13.5 million.