Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert is in the final year of his rookie contract. The other high-profile tight end currently on the Eagles, Zach Ertz, is in the final year of his deal and is likely to be traded prior to training camp. That means Goedert is in line to be the starter in Philadelphia and could parlay a big year into a big new contract.
But Goedert isn’t necessarily thinking about things in that way. When the young tight end spoke to the media this week, he revealed that his reps have already talked to the team about a possible contract extension prior to the start of the 2021 season. Here is a link to the 11-minute press conference Goedert had recently.
Goedert understandably avoided answering anything specific when asked about Zach Ertz and his situation, but he did come off as someone who sounded like he knew he was about to embark on a major season
These negotiations should be interesting. On the one hand, Goedert is coming off of a poor season in which he struggled with injuries and inconsistent production. That gives the team some leverage, though both sides know 2020 isn’t indicative of Goedert’s value or potential. But if he gets hurt again in 2021, he could be seen as damaged goods next offseason and might have to settle for a one-year deal or a discounted multi-year deal.
On the other hand, Goedert is still only 26 years old and would be entering free agency at 27 next offseason. If he has a big year, he could line himself up as one of the more coveted players in free agency. Playing out the 2021 season and betting on himself could land Goedert the bigger payday, but he would also be taking a risk.
Again, both sides know this. They know the value and the comps. The guess here is that the two sides meet in the middle somewhere and agree to an extension after the Ertz debacle is finally settled and the Eagles have some additional payroll flexibility.
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Mike Maher is the editor and publisher of The Birds Blitz and Juiced Ball Era. Follow him on Twitter @mikeMaher and @TheBirdsBlitz and check out his archive for all of his latest stories about the Eagles and the NFL.
