Previously this season I wrote about Eagles that needed to improve going into the first few weeks of the season. In pretty unusual fashion, most of my picks have actually come true. I would continue running that series but the only problem is, the Eagles have just been too good to continually name multiple different players who need to step up. The Eagles are playing at a very high level because most of the individuals on the team that needed to step up, consistently have. In this piece, I would like to highlight a player who I think has improved greatly since the start of the season.
Dallas Goedert
For Dallas week, I had to pick the appropriately named tight end, Dallas Goedert. Over the last season and a half, Goedert has established himself as one of the best tight ends in the league. He always had the potential but because of having to share playing time with another All-Time Eagles tight end, he never got the statistics or respect that he deserved.
Last season, he set a career high with 830 receiving yards in 15 games. This season, he is on pace to shatter that, with 335 yards in only 5 games. He also is averaging more catches a game, at about 5 catches and 67 yards per game. He ranks third, behind Mark Andrews and Travis Kelce. The one area that separates Goedert from almost every other player as a receiving threat is his yards after the catch.
Philly fans dealt with “No YAC Zach”(even though we still love him) and now finally have a tight end who can not just catch the ball and move the chains, but also run people over and physically dominate them for extra yards. He is second in the NFL in this category, with 287 yards, just barely behind Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, who has 288.
Not only has Goedert become a top receiving threat in the NFL, he also is an elite blocker. The Eagles are a run heavy team, and because of his pure size, 6’5’’ and 256 pounds, he is an extremely effective run blocker. He often lines up as an extra blocker and helps pave the way for Jalen Hurts and Miles Sanders to tear up opposing defenses.
Eagles’ TE1
Over the course of the last 5 years, Dallas Goedert has slowly evolved into one of the very best tight ends in the National Football League. For the first time in his career, he has a full season as the undisputed number 1 tight end on the team, and he is making the most of his opportunity. His breakout is just starting and with him under contract for the next 4 seasons, I expect him to be a consistent playmaker for years to come.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
