Earlier this offseason, TE Dallas Goedert’s future with the Eagles was very much in doubt, and it was reported he would have to take a pay cut to avoid being traded or released. As PHLY’s Zach Berman writes, Goedert never requested a trade to avoid a reduction in 2025 pay and/or to find a team willing to authorize a new contract for him.
Instead, the 30-year-old seemingly realized he would have to take a cut, and he put forth a number he was comfortable with. Ultimately, he agreed to accept $10MM in 2025, with a chance to earn up to an additional $1MM in incentives. He was previously scheduled to take home $14.25MM.
Prior to April’s draft, Philadelphia was believed to be shopping Goedert, and trade offers did emerge. The fact that the Eagles were reportedly willing to accept 2026 draft compensation for their TE1 suggested a trade was a real possibility, but clearly a deal never materialized. The club did not select a tight end in the draft, and talks about a reworked pact accelerated thereafter.
From a purely on-field perspective, it never made much sense for the reigning Super Bowl champions to part ways with one of their better offensive players. The lack of high-end additions to the TE depth chart in free agency or the draft made it clear that, despite the trade chatter, Philadelphia was always amenable to retaining Goedert at a reduced rate, and the player likewise preferred to remain with the team that made him a second-round pick in 2018.
The pay cut did not change the term of the contract, so Goedert remains eligible for free agency in 2026. He has battled injuries in recent seasons, and he played a career-low 10 regular season games in 2024 (though he did lead the Eagles with 215 receiving yards during the team’s Super Bowl run). George Kittle recently proved that a tight end on the wrong side of 30 can still land a top-of-the-market contract, and a strong, healthy season from Goedert will give him a good case for another lucrative deal of his own.
The Eagles focused on the defensive side of the ball in the draft, and the offseason addition of Terrace Marshall notwithstanding, it appears Goedert will retain his status as one of QB Jalen Hurts’ top-three receiving options, behind wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. His blocking contributions in support of running back Saquon Barkley likely played a role in the team’s decision to keep him on the roster as well.
Could have easily gone to jaguars to replace engram but I think he made the right choice
“From a purely on-field perspective, it never made much sense for the reigning Super Bowl champions to part ways with one of their better offensive players”.
This is true and I think the “my guy” theory arty has spoken about might be in play here. Sirianni probably views Goedert as a Pederson player rather than one of his guys.
Lets also not lose track that he’s missed 15 games in the last 3 seasons and as he ages, he’ll more than likely continue to miss games as injuries and the bumps and grinds of a 17 game season will have a greater affect as he continues to age…..I think Siriani and Howie realizes that……
Howie traded Zach Ertz at about the same age thinking he would wear down and stop being productive but that didn’t happen.
He’s signed for this year. Most likely with all their draft picks (12) next year they’ll either draft or trade for a TE or both. If he’s healthy and productive next year they’ll either draft can either resign him or get a compensatory pick in 2027.