Veteran tight end Dallas Goedert agreed to a deal to stay with the Philadelphia Eagles after spending his first eight seasons in Philadelphia, The Athletic reported.
Goedert ranked No. 29 on The Athletic’s Top 150 free agents and was the top available tight end after the Atlanta Falcons used the franchise tag to keep Kyle Pitts off the market.
The Eagles pushed back a void date in Goedert’s contract twice during the past week, keeping him off the open market and buying time to negotiate a new deal. Had the Eagles released Goedert, the Eagles would have absorbed a salary cap hit of more than $20 million in dead money. By re-signing him, the Eagles preserve cap space for 2026.
The 31-year-old Goedert is coming off one of the best receiving seasons of his career, setting a career high in receptions (60) and touchdowns (11) while finishing with 591 receiving yards. The touchdowns were tied for the most in the NFL by a tight end this season. He played 15 regular-season games, which was his most since 2021. He was especially effective in the short red zone, finishing with eight touchdowns inside the opponent’s 10-yard line. Goedert’s run blocking appeared to tail off last season, although he’s proven capable in this area in previous seasons.
The Eagles drafted Goedert in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft and he waited his turn behind Zach Ertz before becoming the top option in 2021. Since 2021, he’s tied for ninth among tight ends in the NFL in receiving yards and No. 8 in receptions. He was more effective with yards after the catch in previous seasons, yet he remains a challenging tight end to bring down in the open field.
The Eagles shopped Goedert last offseason before the two sides agreed to a reduced salary for 2025. The revised deal allowed Goedert to hit the free-agent market.
How he fits
Goedert has been the Eagles’ top tight end since 2021 and on the roster since 2018, so it won’t take long to project his fit. He’s a proven pass catcher with a strong connection with quarterback Jalen Hurts who demonstrated last year that he can be a threat in the red zone. He’s been strong after the catch in previous seasons, although he’s entering Year 9 and his age-31 season. The Eagles’ new offense is expected to place a strong emphasis on tight ends when viewing the way offenses from Sean Mannion’s background have functioned, so there’s no reason to think Goedert’s role will be reduced.
His blocking appeared to regress in 2025, though, and a return to previous form in that area will benefit the offense. The Eagles also need Goedert to stay healthy; he’s been plagued by injuries in recent years before 2025 proved to be his healthiest season since 2021.
2026 roster impact
Before free agency, there were more options for the Eagles at tight end. At this point, Goedert seems like the best option for 2026. The Eagles added Johnny Mundt as a blocking tight end and re-signed Grant Calcaterra. The only change to the depth chart has been Mundt. The Eagles have not drafted a tight end since Calcaterra in 2022, so it would make sense for them to draft a tight end who can develop behind Goedert and perhaps push for a top role in 2027. But for 2026, the Eagles no longer have an urgency at the position because of the move to re-sign Goedert.
The Eagles also have Cam Latu, E.J. Jenkins and Jaheim Bell under contract. Latu doubled as the team’s fullback last season.
Cap update
Contract terms are not yet available, although the Eagles preserve salary-cap space by agreeing to a deal with Goedert. Had they released Goedert, the Eagles would have absorbed a salary-cap hit of more than $20 million in dead money. That was a big reason why the Eagles pushed back a contract deadline twice during the past week. Keeping Goedert delays a dead cap hit on his deal and saves the Eagles cap space. That could allow the Eagles to either add salary (such as trading for an edge rusher), or absorb a cap hit if A.J. Brown was traded.
Zach Berman’s takeaway
After Goedert was on the trade block last offseason and came back to Philadelphia on a reduced salary, I figured the two sides could move on in 2026 following eight memorable seasons. Bringing back Goedert seems like a sensible outcome given how the tight end market materialized and the cap hit the Eagles would have absorbed by moving on from him this offseason. There was no strong upgrade lingering on the market, and it would have been hard to build a plan around Kenyon Sadiq falling to them at No. 23.
Goedert is consistent and reliable when he’s on the field, and he fits in the locker room and the offense. Still, general manager Howie Roseman should continue searching for young tight end options. If the Eagles field Goedert, Mundt and Calcaterra as their trio, they’ll enter next offseason with the same uncertainty at the position as this offseason. The Eagles went from Brent Celek to Zach Ertz to Goedert. Succession plans have served them well in the past. If the draft board allows, it would behoove them to do so this April. The trade market can also be an avenue to explore.
