No one within the Philadelphia Eagles fan base would have thought that the team was going to bring back tight end Dallas Goedert when the offseason began. It became clear at the end of the first week of free agency that something had shifted.
After moving back Goedert's void date twice to prevent him from hitting the free agency market, the Eagles finally got a deal done with him. It ended up being a one-year contract to stay on the team through the 2026 season.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter added after breaking the news that it was worth $7 million, including a $4.25 million signing bonus. The move was critical for the Eagles, as it avoided a $20 million dead cap hit.
Eagles strike a good deal with Dallas Goedert
This ends up being a massive win for Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, as he has been able to get the best of both worlds from the deal. One, Philly brings back one of Jalen Hurts' favorite pass targets after having career highs in receptions (60) and touchdowns (11). It also takes a lot of financial burden off the Eagles as they now deal with one final offseason storyline to close the book on: A.J. Brown.
Schefter and, really, none of the NFL insiders had any updates on Brown after the move, as many believe Goedert's contract situation was tied to what happens with Brown. The truth is, neither has anything to do with the other, as they are two completely different situations.
Brown is still likely to be traded, but not until June 1, when the Eagles will take less of a hit on the dead cap space and save $7 million against the cap. If anyone wanted to tie Goedert's contract to Brown, it could take less of a financial burden off the Eagles with a trade before June 1, but Roseman still doesn't want to do that. He would rather save his money and wait until later in the year to get something done unless he got an incredible deal for Brown, like a first- or second-round pick.
If there is anything to take away from this situation, it's that Roseman told the NFL one thing: he wants a good deal. He's not worried about making splash signings. This is more about getting the best possible deal, and for him to get Goedert from potentially a $14 million salary before 2025 to $10 million in the 2025 season to $7 million in 2026 just shows he can make a good deal to help the team.
Credit to Goedert as well, though, for proving that money doesn't matter. All he wants to do is stay in Philly and win.
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Despite not being able to bring back guys like Jaelan Phillips and Reed Blankenship, the Eagles were able to get a key piece of their offense to return for at least one more year. It'll make a potential Brown trade easier knowing Hurts has some weapons to still throw to.