Eagles Today

Howie Roseman SZN: Tight Ends

Dallas Goedert is one of the NFL's bets at the position and Philadelphia found some upside in Grant Calcaterra
Howie Roseman SZN: Tight Ends
Howie Roseman SZN: Tight Ends

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The Eagles have one of the best two-way tight ends in football in Dallas Goedert, a solid and capable backup in Jack Stoll entering his third season, and a flex tight end with upside in Grant Calcaterra.

It's a solid group for position coach Jason Michael, a former offensive coordinator in Tennessee who is one of the more underrated assistants on Nick Sirianni's staff.

Goedert, 28, had a great season in 2022 despite missing five games with a broken glenoid bone in his shoulder. His numbers of 55-702-3 project to be 78 receptions for 995 yards over 17 games if healthy so the production is certainly there.

Pro Football Focus graded out Goedert as the No. 4 TE in the NFL behind established stars Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Mark Andrews.

With an ability to play as a flex receiver or a true y-back in-line, Goedert is an endangered species in the modern NFL that gives Sirianni and new offensive coordinator Brian Johnson the ability to run just about anything they want out of 11, 12, or 13 personnel. Most other teams are very predictable in those circumstances because the TE is either a receiver or blocker.

Stoll, 25, has the reputation of a blocker but showed some more juice than expected as a receiver when Goedert was injured and finished with 11 receptions for 123 yards and earned the trust of Jalen Hurts. He’s never going to be regarded as a threat as a receiver but competency coupled with the blocking ability is all that’s being asked.

Calcaterra, 24, a sixth-round pick in 2022, showed the upside the Eagles expected as a receiver. Moving forward, his ask will be to become at least a serviceable blocker so his presence doesn’t tip the defense.

Tyree Jackson, 25, will be back for one last opportunity to try to make the transition from college quarterback to NFL TE. Injuries have hampered Jackson, whether it was the broken bone in his back in 2021 training camp or the torn ACL he suffered in the 2021 season finale that essentially wiped out his 2022 season.

From a traits standpoint, Jackson is someone you want walking off the bus first but he has to be considered a longshot to make the 53 next summer.

The Eagles signed Dalton Keene, 23, a 2020 third-round pick in New England who had a cup of coffee with Philadelphia’s PS to a futures deal, rather than Noah Togiai, who was with the team all season.

STAY:

-Goedert is an elite Pro Bowl-level TE under contract through 2025.

-Stoll is never going to be the guy who can rest on his laurels but the QB and coaching staff trust him.

-Calcaterra has a chance to be a really solid flex TE. Whether he can be more than a rotational player will be determined by how much he can improve his blocking.

-Jackson will have one more summer to turn potential into something but the odds are growing longer.

-Keene turns 24 in April so there is still time for him to tap into the traits that made him a Day 2 pick.

GO:

-Togiai joined Jonathan Gannon in Arizona on a futures deal. Whether he wanted another opportunity or the Eagles preferred Keene in the developmental role hasn’t been confirmed but the timing indicated it was the organization’s decision.

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-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen

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John McMullen
JOHN MCMULLEN

John McMullen is a veteran reporter who has covered the NFL for over two decades. The current NFL insider for JAKIB Media, John is the former NFL Editor for The Sports Network where his syndicated column was featured in over 200 outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and Miami Herald. He was also the national NFL columnist for Today's Pigskin as well as FanRag Sports. McMullen has covered the Eagles on a daily basis since 2016, first for ESPN South Jersey and now for Eagles Today on SI.com's FanNation. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube.com. John is also the host of his own show "Extending the Play" on AM1490 in South Jersey and part of 6ABC.com's live postgame show after every Eagles game. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen

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