The start of training camp is drawing closer and closer despite the league still not having set rules and protocols in place but that can’t stop us from looking into what to expect once the camps are underway. The Eagles are in a unique position than most teams this time around because of the continuity that they have in multiple aspects of their franchise. In one group, the continuity has been looked at as trade bait more than a potentially elite duo. Here’s to looking at the upcoming Tight End battle.
12-personnel finally good to go?
If you’ve truly done your research on the Eagles then you know the offensive staff has a new obsession when it comes to 12 personnel. Who could blame them? You have a future Hall of Famer in Zach Ertz and the next big thing in Dallas Goedert. We already know just how good Ertz truly is while Goedert has shown us flashes of greatness from time to time. Despite the fact that Ertz was targeted 135 times this season and hauled in 88 of them for 916 yards, Goedert was still able to make his presence known. Dallas was able to haul in 58 receptions on 87 targets for an impressive 607 yards.
Many situations played a factor in the young tight ends sophomore leap. The Eagles dealt with a depleted receiver group since week 2, which is also around the time that Goedert missed his first game of the season due to injury. While Dallas has all the potential in the world it seems that he has been no stranger to injuries in his first two seasons as a pro. He missed one game last season but only started 9 of them. For a team that’s trying to establish an offense built around their two tight ends, you can imagine just how difficult it would be if one of them is full go early on in the season.
Now the Eagles have shown their commitment to this ideal offense as they drafted three speed receivers in this year’s draft and trade for deep threat Marquise Goodwin. With Goedert and Ertz manning the middle of the field, the Eagles will have a handful of options on the outside this season.
The Elephant in the room?
I know you’re dying to talk about it, so let’s address the elephant in the room. Zach Ertz is not trade bait for the Eagles. There, I said it. Someone tell Howie please so he doesn’t make me regret that statement. Anyways, if you’re hoping the Eagles trade Ertz for another star due to Goedert’s star potential, I need you to gently remove all of your eggs from that basket. It’s been reported that the Eagles are waiting for the Kittle deal to go through so they can work on an extension for Ertz.
As for Goedert, don’t think they’ll let him walk either. The Eagles want to keep the combination together for years to come. They did so with Celek and Ertz; while Celek wasn’t the player that Ertz or Goedert is now, he helped lay the foundation of the blueprint that the Eagles will like to follow.
Who else is in the mix?
The TE3 spot may belong to Josh Perkins form here on out unless he underperforms in OTA’s. While we have yet to see what Perkins can really do, we know two things about him: One, he plays like a receiver but can decently block like a tight end and Two, He has a knack of being in the right place at the right time. While he’s not a lock for the TE3 spot, there seems to be a possible battle brewing right before him.
The undrafted rookie, Noah Togiai, will also be vying for his shot at a roster spot this season. Noah is one of the team’s biggest UDFA signings this offseason, Togiai received the third-highest guarantee out of the Eagles UDFA signings. While Josh has shown progress in his blocking ability, that seems to be a huge need for Noah’s game. Togiai could be a solid option for a backup tight end due to his ability in the red zone and more but familiarity with Perkins could land Noah on the practice squad. The Eagles know what they have in Perkins but can the unknowns of Noah flourish this time around?
Mandatory Photo Credit Jerry Habraken, The News Journal via Imagn Content Services, LLC
