Eagles Need a Tight End: Ranking the Best Free Agent and Trade Options to Replace Dallas Goedert

The Eagles have a tight end problem, and it's not a small one. Dallas Goedert's future in Philadelphia is genuinely uncertain. Grant Calcaterra is done. And with Sean Mannion installing an offense that historically leans on tight ends in both the passing and run game, this position just went from "something to monitor" to "urgent need."

The good news? This is one of the best tight end markets in recent memory. The bad news? Everyone else knows it too.

The Free Agent Tier List

David Njoku (Browns) is the top target and it's not particularly close. Njoku is a complete tight end — he blocks, he stretches the seam, he wins contested catches, and he's durable. He'd step into the Eagles' offense and immediately give Mannion the kind of versatile weapon that Shanahan-style systems are built around. Tight ends in this scheme aren't luxury pieces. They're load-bearing walls. Njoku can carry that weight.

Isaiah Likely (Ravens) is the upside play. Still young, explosive as a receiver, and coming from a Baltimore offense that used him creatively. The concern with Likely is his blocking — it's not at the level the Eagles need if they're running heavy personnel groupings. But as a pass-catching tight end who can line up all over the formation, he'd be a nightmare for linebackers.

Cade Otton (Buccaneers) is the sneaky value pick. He's not a household name, but Otton is reliable, well-rounded, and would come at a fraction of what Njoku or Likely would cost. If the Eagles are spending big elsewhere — say, keeping A.J. Brown happy or addressing the defensive line — Otton gives you 80% of the production at 50% of the price.

Charlie Kolar (Ravens) is another name floating around. He's a solid blocker with developing receiving skills, but he's more of a TE2 than a guy you're building around. If the Eagles land a primary target, Kolar would be an excellent complement.

The Kyle Pitts Dream (That's Probably Just a Dream)

Yes, Kyle Pitts' name has come up. No, it's probably not realistic. The Falcons invested the fourth overall pick in Pitts, and despite his underwhelming production in Atlanta, they're not likely to give up on that investment for anything less than a king's ransom. Pitts is the kind of player who could thrive in a different system, and the Eagles' offense could theoretically unlock him. But the trade cost would be prohibitive, and the Eagles have enough holes to fill without giving up premium draft capital for a tight end.

Don't Sleep on the Draft

The Eagles could also address tight end through the draft, and this class has options. If they grab a day-two tight end, they'd be getting a cost-controlled player for the next four years — exactly the kind of asset Howie Roseman loves. Pairing a veteran free agent signing with a drafted developmental piece would give the Eagles both immediate production and long-term depth.

The Bottom Line

Tight end is a legitimate need, and the Eagles can't afford to whiff here. Mannion's offense needs a starting-caliber tight end who can block in 12 personnel and win in the passing game. Njoku should be the primary target in free agency, with Likely and Otton as strong fallback options. Draft a developmental piece on top of that, and suddenly the position goes from crisis to strength.

The Combine starts soon. Free agency follows. The Eagles need to walk into March with a plan at tight end, because walking in without one would be malpractice.