Dallas Goedert's twist of fate has only one reversal plan per Eagles insider

It seems like this wouldn't be the case, but Dallas Goedert is seemingly one of the last of a dying breed. The Philadelphia Eagles star is among the few NFL tight ends who block, catch the football, and make magic after the catch with equal levels of proficiency.

If that's true (and most believe it is), why is it that he's been treated like he's expendable? One year remains on the four-year, $57 million extension he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on November 19, 2021, and though no one questions his talent level, the theory is he won't be around to play that deal out when the coming regular season begins.

It's an interesting twist of fate for someone who was believed to be one of the top four options on the Eagles offense. There have been rallying cries on social media for his payday, but so far, Philly seems unwilling to grant him one.

Dallas Goedert's ride in Philly may be ending, but an Eagles insider sees a significant silver lining.

It's a cold, cold world, and though it has become cliche to say so, pro football is a business. No one wants to see Goedert play anywhere besides Philly, but if he's to do so for an eighth season, something about his offseason needs to shift. One Eagles insider believes he has the elixir.

It's a simple yet complex theory. ESPN's Tim McManus contributed to a cooperative piece released at the 2025 NFL owners meeting. He believes if 88 is willing to take a pay cut, there's a slim chance he'd be on next season's roster.

And, by 'slim chance', we mean 'slim'. When asked about Goedert's standing, Birds head coach Nick Sirianni lamented, "Right now, he's on our football team."

That led McManus to offer the following:

"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."

Here's more from McManus:

"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."

Despite a recent salary cap increase, as McManus also states, there's only so much cash to go around. Keep in mind the fact that the Birds need to begin thinking about the potential contract extensions of some of their young players. Guys like Cam Jurgens come to mind.

The Eagles have fifth-year options they can exercise on the rookie deals of Jordan Davis (drafted in 2022), Jalen Carter, and Nolan Smith. The latter two were drafted in 2023.

So, what does that mean for Goedert? Fans love him. So do his teammates, but he turned 30 in January. Some see that plateau as a sign that the end is near, but Goedert has been solid when he's been on the field and available.

There is one reason to be concerned. 88 gets hurt a lot, and in his absence, the Birds have shown they can win without him.

Throw out the most recent regular season finale, one where Philly rested its starters, and he's still missed 14 games spanning the past three seasons. That has steered some towards asking if Philly would be wise to begin considering a succession plan.

Goedert is one of those guys whose veins pump blood tinged with green hues. He's a Super Bowl champion. He's produced 349 receptions, 4,085 yards receiving, and 24 TDs in 93 career games with 76 starts.

We'll be eyeing this one closely. If we were to wager, we'd state Goedert probably plays somewhere else next season. So far, the most common theory is that he'll be released if Philly can find a trade partner soon.