The Eagles roster will look different at key positions, and the NFL owners' meetings provide little clarity regarding Dallas Goedert's future with the club.
Earlier this week, head coach Nick Sirianni was noncommittal and obviously unsure when he responded, "He's on our team." ESPN's Tim McManus was even less optimistic, stating that "outside of him taking a pay cut, it's hard to envision Goedert returning to Philly in 2025."
Sirianni went on to laud Goedert as a player and leader and said he wants all players who contributed to the Super Bowl season back, but added, "There's more to it than that." Money is at the root of the potential departure. The 30-year-old is in the final year of a deal that averages $14 million per season. The Eagles have signed a number of players to big-money contracts in recent years, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, receiver A.J. Brown, running back Saquon Barkley and linebacker Zack Baun.
With only so much cash to go around, they're making some tough choices this offseason on contributors with sizable salaries who haven't been identified as core options moving forward. Goedert's injury history (he has missed three-plus games in each of the past three seasons) appears to be working against him in that regard.
Goedert is set to enter the final year of his deal and has no guaranteed money with his $11,810,583 salary cap hit for 2025. Last season, Goedert played in 10 games, logging 42 receptions for 496 yards, averaging 11.8 yards per catch, and two scores. He led the team in receptions (17) and receiving yards (215) during their Super Bowl run in the postseason.
Goedert is a warrior, and when he's healthy, the talented pass catcher is one of the top tight ends in the NFL. Goedert is 30 years old, and like Zach Ertz before him, the Eagles could be preparing for an exit strategy as they work to get younger at the position. Josina Anderson previously reported that Philadelphia is open to trading Goedert and would be willing to take a 2026 or 2027 fourth-round pick.
A second-round pick in 2018 out of South Dakota State, Goedert has started 76 career games, logging 349 catches for 4,085 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Goedert has missed 15 games since the 2022 season and has only played a full slate of games once.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Dallas Goedert could be released or traded without accepting a pay cut
