While the wide receiver position has been the focus of this offseason, it’s the tight ends who may be the biggest beneficiaries. This position has been known to get the volume of touches week in and week out. In 2020, we can finally see the potential of this unit with the young burners on the outside. Here’s an outlook on the most consistent group on the roster.
Zach Ertz
Ertz will be entering his 8th season in the NFL and continues to be a staple of this offense. His connection to Wentz has proven to be second to none and he’s always come through when the team needed him most.
After coming off of a huge campaign where he broke the all-time TE record for most receptions in a season, Ertz followed up with another great season. The Eagles veteran put up 916 receiving yards on 88 receptions. Although he only managed 6 touchdowns, the All-Pro tight end continued to make his mark on the Eagles season when they needed him the most. The expectations for Ertz may be higher now that the middle could be open due to the talent they have on the outside. I’m fully expecting Ertz to cross the 1,000 receiving yards mark with 8 touchdowns.
Dallas Goedert
Goedert will be entering his third season in the NFL and it could be a breakout year for him. While the Eagles focused on making 12 personnel the go-to package for the offense, Goedert quietly made a big improvement from his rookie season, finishing the 2019 season with 607 receiving yards on 58 receptions with 5 touchdowns. What’s really impressive is that 33 of those catches went for a first down.
Goedert could really break out this season with the other additions on the outside. Another positive is that Dallas will be fully healthy entering this season. Last year he dealt with a nagging calf injury that carried throughout the season. My expectations for Goedert this season will be 700+ yards and 5 touchdowns.
Josh Perkins
While Perkins may have had an incredible moment last season when Carson threw a TD pass to him against the Giants, his spot on the team may not be guaranteed now. With a healthy Ertz and Goedert entering the season and the plethora of wideouts in the outside, Perkins will have to convince the coaching staff as to why he belongs.
Now I get it, the Eagles are going to run a lot of 12 personnel, especially with all the speed on the outside, but Perkins will have to battle for his spot against the next TE on our list. Both TE’s are of similar stature but one adds a dynamic of youth to the mix and great playmaking ability. We will have to wait and see just how Perkins has developed his game since last season. My expectations if he makes the roster would be 200 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.
Noah Togiai
Noah has a similar build to Josh Perkins. He’s a wide receiver built like a tight end but not as strong as a regular tight end. Even so, his playmaking ability could be a feat that benefits the Eagles greatly. In his last season, Noah tallied 406 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. After his collegiate career, the young tight end finished with a total of 1,048 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 102 receptions. Not flashy numbers but after watching the film the young tight end shows great potential to go along with a good set of hands and good game speed. It’ll be intriguing to see how many tight ends the Eagles keep on their but nonetheless, the competition will be something you should keep your eyes on.
Alex Ellis
Ellis had an interesting ride last summer as a late arrival who narrowly missed the cut following an explosive preseason debut. He caught onto the practice squad but will be hoping to go one further this time by. The former Tennessee product has seen his fair share of teams so far in his young career. He’s had stints with the Jaguars, Chiefs, and the Eagles. The Eagles re-signed him to the practice squad after waiving him with an injury settlement. Ellis was a decent blocker when the team needed him to be but his receiving ability is still up for debate. Ellis may be the odd man out once the season begins.
Mandatory Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports
