Let’s be real for a second. If you’ve followed the Philadelphia Eagles over the last year, you know the vibes around Dallas Goedert have been a complete roller coaster. One minute he’s the "untouchable" successor to Zach Ertz, and the next, he’s the subject of every "Howie Roseman is cooking" trade rumor on the internet.
The Dallas Goedert trade speculation didn't just appear out of thin air. It was a perfect storm of age, money, and a roster that is constantly in flux. Now that we are sitting in January 2026, looking back at the chaos of the last off-season and his phenomenal (yet complicated) 2025 campaign, the picture is finally clearing up. But man, it was a wild ride to get here.
Why the Dallas Goedert Trade Speculation Reached a Fever Pitch
It basically started in early 2025. You remember the draft, right?
The Eagles were coming off a Super Bowl LIX run, and the salary cap math was starting to look like a nightmare. Goedert was 30 years old, carrying a heavy cap hit, and entering the final real year of his deal. For a guy like Howie Roseman, that’s usually the "trade or extend" window. Honestly, most of us thought he was gone.
Reports from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo eventually confirmed what we all suspected: the Eagles actually did entertain trade offers for Goedert during the 2025 draft. They didn't just answer the phone; they were actively gauging the market. Imagine being Goedert and hearing that while you're trying to prep for another title run.
But a trade never happened. Why? Because Goedert did something you don't see often in this league. He stayed in the loop, kept his cool, and eventually agreed to a reworked contract to stay in Philly for the 2025 season. He chose "running it back" over a potentially bigger payday elsewhere.
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The 2025 Season: A Stat-Line That Messed Everything Up
If Goedert had slowed down in 2025, the trade talk would have died and turned into "release" talk. Instead, he went out and had a historic year.
- Receptions: 60
- Yards: 591
- Touchdowns: 11 (A franchise record for an Eagles tight end)
He didn't just catch passes; he became the first tight end in NFL history to record both a rushing and a receiving touchdown in a single playoff game during that Wild Card battle against the 49ers. He was playing like a guy who wanted to make it impossible for the front office to let him walk.
But here’s the kicker: even with that production, the Dallas Goedert trade speculation never truly vanished. It just shifted. People started asking, "Is his trade value now at its absolute peak?"
The Salary Cap Trap of 2026
We’re currently looking at a very weird financial situation. Goedert is technically a pending free agent now, but thanks to the "salary cap magic" the Eagles have played over the years, he carries a massive dead cap hit for 2026—somewhere in the neighborhood of $20.5 million.
That is a staggering amount of money for a player who isn't even under contract yet.
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This is where things get nerdy. The Eagles can’t really "trade" him right now because his contract has essentially voided into a free agency status. However, the speculation persists because the team has to decide whether to resign him to spread that $20 million hit over several years or just eat the loss and let him sign with a contender like the Bengals or Chiefs.
Some fans on the r/eagles boards are convinced that the only way to keep Goedert is if A.J. Brown restructures his own massive deal. It’s a game of roster Tetris. If Brown doesn't play ball, Roseman might be forced to let his star tight end walk for nothing but a compensatory pick, which feels like a waste after a career-best season.
The "Replacement" Problem
You’ve probably noticed the Eagles’ depth chart lately. It’s... thin.
Aside from Goedert, the tight end room has been a rotating door. Grant Calcaterra and Kylen Granson are also hitting free agency. The team recently signed E.J. Jenkins to a futures deal, but let’s be honest: Jenkins isn't Dallas Goedert.
If the Eagles don't bring Goedert back, they are looking at a massive hole in Jalen Hurts’ security blanket. Goedert accounted for nearly a third of the team's receiving touchdowns last year. You don't just replace that with a mid-round draft pick or a journeyman vet.
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What's Next for Goedert and the Birds?
So, where does this leave us? The Dallas Goedert trade speculation has evolved from "Will they move him for a 2nd round pick?" to "How do they find the money to keep him from leaving for a rival?"
The league year officially flips on March 11, 2026. Between now and then, Howie Roseman has to decide if he wants to pay a 31-year-old tight end what is likely his final "big" contract. Goedert has proven he still has the hands and the red-zone twitch. But the Eagles are also a team that loves to stay young.
What you should watch for in the coming weeks:
- The A.J. Brown Restructure: If this happens, it’s a massive signal that the Eagles are clearing room to bring Goedert back on a 2-3 year deal.
- The Scouting Combine: Watch how closely the Eagles' staff looks at the top tight end prospects. If they’re falling in love with a rookie, Goedert’s time in Philly is likely done.
- The "Legal Tampering" Window (March 9): If there’s no news of an extension by then, expect Goedert to test the market and potentially land with a team that has more cap space to burn.
Honestly, it's a coin flip. Goedert is an Eagles legend in the making, but the NFL is a business that doesn't care about nostalgia. Keep an eye on the cap numbers—they usually tell the story before the "insiders" do.
To stay ahead of the curve, you should keep a close watch on the NFL's official transaction wire starting the first week of March, as that is when the "void years" on Goedert's contract will officially trigger the dead cap hit. Additionally, check the Eagles' salary cap space on sites like OverTheCap; if you see a sudden jump in available funds without a corresponding release, it almost certainly means a veteran like A.J. Brown or Jordan Mailata has restructured to make room for a Goedert extension.