Dallas Goedert is a really good player and if not for the fact that he was drafted to Philadelphia during the prime of the Zach Ertz era, we could be talking about the Eagles backup tight end as one of the NFL’s elite pass catchers and top-players under 25 in the NFL.
Goedert isn’t on any of the national lists, and such a snub discounts just what the young tight end brings to the Eagles.
Goedert had an inconsistent rookie season but also showed flashes that could allow the Birds to trot out the top tight end duo in all of football, with Ertz and Dallas holding the same ability to dictate matchups to the opposition.
As a rookie, Goedert caught 33 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns, while showing a veteran ability to dominate in the running game as well, with the Eagles young tight end being on the winning end of several highlight-reel blocks.
The pundits will say well Goedert doesn’t get the targets or have the statistics to back up such a claim, but like Draymond Green for his NBA team, Goedert is set to become a jack of all trades. A guy so good at run blocking, that the Eagles can replace their Pro Bowl tight end in a pinch and not lose production. Goedert is a guy that because of his versatility, could end up cutting into or making Nelson Agholor obsolete because you could eventually see a scenario where the Eagles 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) becomes the go too formation, with the wide receivers being interchangeable based on favorable matchups, while Ertz and Goedert are the headliners of the formation.
The additions of Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard at running back will make the 12 personnel that more lethal, as the defense can’t offer help on both Ertz and Goedert because of the dynamic running backs. Goedert’s ascension will allow Doug Pederson and Mike Groh to have two excellent tight ends in the game, bringing versatility and interchangeable parts to the offense. Because of Goedert taking the next step in his development, teams will no longer be able to predict if they run or pass when they have two tight ends in the game, thus taking away an opposing teams ability to play defense based on personnel.
Imagine a formation based on favorable matchups, where Goedert and Ertz both are positioned in the slot, both athletic enough to still win matchups. If you’re basing a list of top players under 25 on what they’ve done so far, how well the player has performed, his recent success in the NFL, his future projections and positional value, all in one grade, that versatility and potential is why Goedert is one of the top players in the NFL, under the age of 25.
