Birds lock in Goedert with contract extension
PHILADELPHIA » Bouncing back from a concussion, Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert reconsidered his football mortality Friday. He decided it was OK to take a deal that makes him the NFL’s second-highest paid tight end in total dollars rather than play chicken with the Eagles about a possible franchise tag.
Make no mistake, Goedert had leverage. The salary cap is increasing almost 15 percent compared to last season, and in future years will skyrocket from the TV and streaming rights deals.
The benefit of getting paid now with a four-year, $59 million extension, including $36 million guaranteed, outweighed starting over somewhere else as possibly the highest-paid tight end. Imagine, if you will, what the Dallas Cowboys would have done had the Eagles not franchised him?
At any rate, Goedert is happy he didn’t take the complete hometown discount on the table during training camp.
“Obviously, it’s changed a little bit,” Goedert said of the money. “It went up. But we’re really excited with it. I think both sides are happy. Like I said, I’m really thankful, really happy. I love playing in Philadelphia with these fans. They’re always very passionate. Just to be here, in the same place I started my career for another four, is pretty special to me.”
George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers is the only tight end due more in total dollars than Goedert. Kittle averages $15 million annually compared to a $14.75 million average for Goedert.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said he is on track to plug Goedert into his usual role Sunday when the Eagles (4-6) oppose the New Orleans Saints (5-4) at
Lincoln Financial Field. Sirianni feels the 6-5, 256-pound Goedert, who averaged 46 catches and four touchdowns in three seasons while Zach Ertz was getting targets as well, is a matchup nightmare for defenses.
“He does a lot of things really well,” Sirianni said. “I think that’s what’s special about Dallas, is that he’s not a receiving tight end, he’s not a blocking tight end, he can do both. There’s not a lot of guys like that, that are really exceptional at being able to create mismatches in the pass game and also get their job done in the run game. So, he’s shown that for some time now and he’s definitely shown that to me in the short time I’ve been here. Just really excited for him and for us that he’ll be locked up here for the next couple years.”
Goedert says he’s ready to roll after the concussion that came on a hard yet legal hit by Justin Simmons of the Denver Broncos. He felt he was close to returning in that game. The Eagles didn’t need him as they rolled to a 3013 triumph.
The first phone call Goedert made after agreeing to the deal was to his mother, who he said still drives the automobile he used while matriculating at South Dakota State. The one with the dented fender. Mom and dad are going to be upgraded real soon.
“I’ll help them out as much as I can,” Goedert said. “Just start from the bottom up, my family and work my way. It’s cool to have all this money, but when you got it it’s more about, how can I help other people for sure?”
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Guard Jack Anderson (hamstring), who still hasn’t played for the Eagles this season, is listed as out on the injury report.
Defensive starters Derek Barnett (neck) and Davion Taylor (knee) both are listed questionable. Barnett was hurt in practice. Taylor has clicked well with veteran linebacker TJ Edwards.
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The Saints will be without running back Alvin Kamara, who basically is their offense, and offensive tackles Terron Armstead (knee) and Ryan Ramczyk (knee).
All are listed as out along with wide receiver Ty Montgomery (hand) and defensive linemen Tanoh Kpassagnon (ankle) of Villanova, and Malcolm Roach (knee).
Backup quarterback Taysom Hill, who started against the Eagles last year, practiced despite a foot injury that’s limited him.
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NOTES » The Eagles will wear their all-black uniforms Sunday to give them that good old, blackout effect at the Linc, where they’ve lost five straight games. They’re favored by two points over the Saints. … Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson are tied for the NFL lead with 73 explosive plays, representing completions of 16-plus yards and runs of 10 or more yards. The Eagles lead the league with 98 explosive plays while the defense has allowed just 70, the sixth-fewest total in the league.