Eagles, TE Dallas Goedert come to decision on future

Goedert is expected to stay in Philly on a reworked deal, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane reports. One season remains on Goedert’s Eagles extension. The sides are indeed proceeding with a reworking, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Trade offers did emerge for Goedert during the draft, Garafolo adds, and the Eagles were open to adding 2026 draft assets for the proven pass-catcher/blocker. But Goedert remains one of the NFL’s top tight ends. He will be crucial to Philly’s title defense. As could be expected, Garafolo adds Eagles coaches wanted Goedert back for an eighth season. Talks about Goedert staying accelerated after the draft, McLane notes.

It is unclear what teams made offers for Goedert, but the former second-round pick preferred to stay with the Eagles over being dealt to one of the interested teams. Goedert, 30, remained in contact with the Eagles during this process. It is uncertain if he will score a second extension from the Eagles, who passed on a third Zach Ertz contract back in 2021 (before paying Goedert), but the team will have its third pass-catching pillar back for the 2025 season.

The Eagles' contract structures have become increasingly complicated, as option bonuses and void years pile up on their cap sheet, but Goedert was due $14.25M in the final season of a four-year, $57M deal. George Kittle and Trey McBride have upped the TE market this offseason. With A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts on big-ticket deals, the Eagles may have a difficult time paying Goedert as well. But the sides will huddle up once again, giving Goedert a chance to cement his value as part of a Super Bowl title defense.

Early during free agency, the Eagles were believed to be shopping Goedert. This preceded a rumor that the team would not keep the South Dakota State alum around absent a pay cut. That may well be what is transpiring, though updated contract figures have not surfaced. 

Nevertheless, the Eagles’ pass game is all set to run through Brown, Smith and Goedert together for at least one more season. After not addressing the tight-end position in the draft, the Eagles would have run into a difficult time finding a Goedert upgrade this offseason. 

It always made more sense for the sides to find common ground, though it will be interesting to learn what other destinations presented themselves to Goedert.

While injuries have continued to crop up for Goedert, he has continued to come back after short-term IR stints. Last season did bring an extended absence — separate three- and four-game hiatuses — but Goedert reemerged to lead the Eagles in playoff receiving yards (215). 

Goedert has not offered the Eagles Ertz-level receiving production, having topped 800 yards in just one of his seven seasons (2021), but he has been one of the game’s best all-around TEs. He played a key role in Saquon Barkley‘s 2,000-yard rushing season, doing so after having helped Miles Sanders and D’Andre Swift to 1,000-yard years.

The Eagles will still need to address this position soon, especially if they are not intending to give Goedert a third contract. The team added Harrison Bryant and Kylen Granson this offseason, but both profile as supplementary pieces rather than a starter. 

While Goedert’s post-2025 future will remain a talking point, his return will strengthen the Eagles’ chances of mounting a strong championship defense. His having worked with the team on a solution also should keep the door open for a compromise on staying in Philly beyond this season.