Why the Eagles Should Not Resign Dallas Goedert

Dallas Goedert is one of the greatest tight ends in Eagles History. The team should still move on this offseason.

Dallas Goedert has spent eight seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Drafted as Zach Ertz’s successor, Goedert has been everything the Eagles could have hoped for when they selected him. Catching passes from Nick Foles, Carson Wentz, and Jalen Hurts, Goedert has been a key cog in the Eagles’ offense for a long time. Goedert is set to hit the free agency for the first time in his career, though, and the Eagles should let him take a deal elsewhere.

Time to Move On?

Whenever longtime players become free agents, it forces tough decisions to be made by both the player and the team. However, Howie Roseman and company need to put emotion aside and let Goedert walk.

Aging Veteran

The Eagles were already looking to move on from Goedert in the past. After the 2024 season, Roseman engaged in trade talks with other teams regarding the Eagles’ tight end. Goedert was set to make 14.5 million dollars and was viewed as a cap casualty. The Eagles didn’t receive an offer they liked enough. They also were expecting to draft a tight end, which never ended up happening. This led to the two agreeing to a restructured contract, lowering Goedert’s 2025 salary to 10 million. In 2026, Goedert will be heading into his ninth NFL season at 31 years old. Over recent years, Roseman has been hesitant about committing to aging veterans, especially when they will command a sizable payday on the open market. Goedert is a player who has been an injury risk over his whole career. Since his rookie season, when he appeared in all 16 games, he has never played a full season. When you combine injury risk with someone who is already past his prime, it makes it difficult to justify retaining him. It makes more sense to spend big on younger players, while bringing in veterans on cheap contracts.

Misleading Statistics

Goedert’s 2025 season isn’t quite as good as the statistics suggest, either. This season saw Goedert set a career high in touchdowns with 12 receiving and even a rushing touchdown in the postseason. Many of the touchdowns were manufactured looks, though. Shovel passes accounted for many of Goedert’s touchdowns, and while he obviously deserves credit for capitalizing, these shovel passes would have been touchdowns with many of the league’s tight ends. Something that doesn’t show up in the box score is blocking, in which Goedert took a step back in. The Eagles’ run game as a whole took a massive step back from its historic 2024 campaign. Goedert was far from the only one who fit this criteria, as much of the offensive line did not play up to their standard. The other tight ends on the roster struggled mightily in run blocking, specifically Grant Calcaterra. Regardless, Goedert was once a plus for the Eagles in the run game, but was no longer in 2025.

Strong Tight End Draft Class

The Eagles are projected to have eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, in what is considered a strong tight end class. There will be no shortage of options for the Eagles as they look to add a young tight end. Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq is widely considered the best prospect and a first-round pick. Sadiq is a hyper-athletic tight end who has proven he can be effective as a blocker, while possessing athleticism that gives him the upside to be a matchup nightmare for defenses.

Beyond him, this class is deep. Players like Eli Stowers, Max Klare, and Michael Trigg are day two options that would immediately contribute. Beyond these three, countless players with strengths would be valuable to the Eagles’ offense right away. The point is, with all these young, talented options, the Eagles would be wise to add at least one. They will be a foundational piece of the Eagles’ offense for years to come, as Goedert will not. It will also be better for the Eagles financially, as drafting a tight end will almost assuredly be cheaper than the contract Goedert will receive.

Could Dallas Goedert Return?

The Eagles should move off of Goedert. There is still a path to him returning, though. If Goedert is willing to sign a team-friendly deal, that could entice the Eagles into a reunion. While drafting a tight end is essentially a lock, having this tight end learn from Goedert for a season would be advantageous. Goedert did this with Ertz, as they spent three full seasons together. The Eagles have shown a willingness to do this recently, too. When the team selected Quinyon Mitchell in 2024, veteran Darius Slay acted as his mentor on the team. Although Goedert may not be in the prime of his career anymore, he is still a solid tight end. The Eagles could have a strong one-two punch in 2026 with Goedert and whichever tight end they draft. With that said, the Eagles should still look to move on from Goedert. The two had an incredible run together, but it’s time to go in separate directions. Goedert’s age and decline in play are enough reasons to consider other options in a draft with no shortage of them. Combine that with a possible bidding war in free agency, and the Eagles should move on from their franchise tight end.