I’m of the idea that the Philadelphia Eagles ought to attempt to retain Dallas Goedert for the 2025 NFL season.
He’s nonetheless an excellent participant. It’d be superb to maintain him for yet one more 12 months whereas additionally investing in a alternative possibility who can take over because the Eagles’ beginning tight finish in 2026.
Nevertheless it feels like that situation simply may not be within the playing cards because the Birds look to shed wage. At the least one NFL agent is reportedly satisfied that Goedert is a goner. One other report signifies that the Eagles are “holding out hope for no less than a fourth-round choose” in return for him.
The Eagles have already misplaced a number of key gamers to free company and by buying and selling C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The comprehensible facet to these departures is that there are potential in-house replacements able to step up for them. The identical can’t be mentioned for the Eagles’ tight finish place.
If Goedert isn’t again, the Eagles will probably be left with the next inside choices: Grant Calcaterra, E.J. Jenkins, Nick Muse, and Cameron Latu. Calcaterra is a stable pass-catching possibility however he’s struggled as a blocker and he’s coming into the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract. Jenkins, Muse, and Latu are hardly certain bets to even make subsequent season’s roster. In different phrases, the cabinet will probably be naked if Goedert is gone.
So, what are the exterior options? The free agent market simply isn’t very engaging; there’s nobody that actually jumps out. This 12 months’s tight finish class within the 2025 NFL Draft is taken into account to be sturdy however counting on a rookie isn’t an amazing technique, particularly when gamers at this place sometimes take extra time to develop. Brock Bowers and Sam LaPorta are the exceptions, not the rule.
And so essentially the most lifelike possibility for the Eagles looks like buying and selling for a decent finish on an inexpensive rookie contract.
Enter 2023 second-round choose Michael Mayer.
Mayer is reportedly being shopped by the Las Vegas Raiders, which is sensible since 1) they’ve the aforementioned Bowers forward of him on the depth chart and a pair of) new head coach Pete Carroll and new normal supervisor John Spytek clearly weren’t a part of the regime that chosen him.
Mayer solely noticed 32 targets in 2024, which resulted in 21 receptions for 156 yards and nil touchdowns. That was a step again from his rookie season when his 40 targets resulted in 27 receptions for 304 yards and two scores. The asset the Raiders can purchase for Mayer could possibly be extra helpful than he’ll be as a No. 2 tight finish for them.
The Eagles have an oblique connection to Mayer in Tommy Rees, who was the tight finish’s offensive coordinator at Notre Dame from 2020-2022. Rees is alleged to be shut with Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni with the 2 overlapping on the San Diego Chargers’ teaching workers in 2016. So, it’s not just like the Eagles are flying blind with regards to realizing about Mayer’s sport and his psychological make-up.
Mayer’s pre-draft scouting stories point out he could possibly be an excellent stylistic alternative for Goedert:
Large mixture tight finish with the demeanor for run blocking and the scale for powerful, chain-moving catches beneath. Mayer will come into the league with higher blocking method than most tight ends on this 12 months’s draft. He’s constructed for in-line responsibility and was an extension of the Notre Dame offensive line at occasions. His ft are a bit of heavy moving into and thru his routes, however he has the hand power and get in touch with steadiness to win closely contested catches on the primary two ranges. Mayer would possibly want to shine his route working to turn into a high-volume goal, however he’s a protected choose and will probably be an excellent professional who can turn into a plus participant as a run blocker and go catcher.
What would it not take to accumulate the 23-year-old Mayer, who has two seasons left on his rookie contract? The guess right here is the Eagles may ship their late third-round choose (No. 96 general) for Mayer and a Day 3 choose from the Raiders in return.
What say you?
Ballot
Ought to the Eagles commerce for Michael Mayer?
