Inside the Iggles
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Philadelphia Eagles: Grading the 2018 rookie class performances

By Alex DeMarzo

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 25: Josh Adams #33 of the Philadelphia Eagles carries the ball as B.W. Webb #23 of the New York Giants defends at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 25: Josh Adams #33 of the Philadelphia Eagles carries the ball as B.W. Webb #23 of the New York Giants defends at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 21: Tight end Dallas Goedert #88 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs passed free safety Mike Adams #29 of the Carolina Panthers on a catch-and-run during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on October 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 21: Tight end Dallas Goedert #88 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs passed free safety Mike Adams #29 of the Carolina Panthers on a catch-and-run during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on October 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

TE Dallas Goedert

Going into the 2018 NFL Draft, Howie Roseman suspected long-time Eagles’ tight end Brent Celek would call it a career after 11 seasons. It was apparent that adding another tight end to complement Zach Ertz was a high priority for Philadelphia. So the Eagles decided to draft Dallas Goedert out of South Dakota State with the 49th overall pick.

Typically, players from FCS schools don’t garner much attention. However, like Carson Wentz, Goedert was remarkable in college. Experts compared Goedert to some of the best tight ends in the league such as Travis Kelce, and the Eagles own, Zach Ertz.

Goedert played well when given the opportunity. As the Eagles No. 2 tight end, Goedert finished the season with 33 receptions for 334 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. Additionally, Goedert reeled in 75 percent of the passes thrown his way while averaging 10 yards-per-reception.

Goedert’s break out game occurred during the Eagles Week 3 victory against the Indianapolis Colts. Goedert was the Eagles leading receiver with seven catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.

Although Goedert did play in all 16 regular season games and the two postseason matchups, the Eagles underutilized his abilities during the 2018 campaign. Goedert was only on the field for nearly 48 percent of the Eagles offensive snaps in 2018.

Ertz and Goedert complement each other really well. Both are exceptionally skilled pass catchers, but Goedert excels more in the pass and run blocking than Ertz does.

In fact, before Nick Foles took over in Week 15, the Eagles were most effective when both tight ends were on the field. According to Jeff McLane, Eagles beat reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, when the Birds were in “12” personnel they averaged 6.4 yards-per-play. In other formations, they only averaged 5.1 yards-per-play.

As long as the Eagles learn to utilize Goedert properly, he should have a bright future as he heads into his second season at the professional level.

Grade: B+

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