Rankings Suggest Eagles Lead NFL With Most Important Forgotten Weapon

Rankings Suggest Eagles Lead NFL With Most Important Forgotten Weapon originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Most NFL tight ends would kill for Dallas Goedert’s problems. Playing alongside superstars like Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith sounds like a dream scenario — unless you’re trying to build your own legacy in the shadows of greatness.

An anonymous NFL coach recently crystallized what many around the league have quietly observed: Goedert might be the most underutilized elite tight end in football. Despite ranking ninth in ESPN’s latest tight end rankings — down from seventh last year — the real story isn’t his slight decline. It’s how he’s managed to stay relevant while fighting for scraps in Philadelphia’s loaded offense.

Consider the math that defines Goedert’s career: 334 catches, 3,684 yards and 25 touchdowns across seven seasons. Those aren’t just solid numbers — they’re elite production from a player who’s essentially been Philadelphia’s fourth offensive priority since Day 1. When you break it down to 3.4 catches and 37.2 yards per game, it becomes clear we’re watching a player maximize minimal opportunities with surgical precision.

The anonymous defensive coach’s assessment cuts deep: “You don’t give him as much thought as some of these other top [tight ends], but probably because you can’t afford to with Saquon, A.J. and Smith in that offense.” Translation? Goedert has become the victim of his own team’s success — a chess piece overshadowed by the kings and queens on the board.

His 2022 season offers a tantalizing glimpse of what could be. With 55 catches for 702 yards and three touchdowns, Goedert showed flashes of what happens when the offense occasionally flows through him. But that production came before Brown’s arrival and Barkley’s eventual signing — additions that pushed him further down the pecking order.

The cruel irony of 2024 tells the complete story. While Goedert posted his worst receiving numbers since his rookie year — 42 catches, 496 yards and two touchdowns — he arguably became more valuable to Philadelphia’s championship aspirations. His blocking prowess anchored the run-heavy attack that made Barkley’s historic season possible, proving that sometimes the most important contributions don’t show up in fantasy football lineups.

Philadelphia’s offseason flirtation with trading Goedert before restructuring his deal to one year and $10 million reveals the organization’s own conflicted feelings. The Eagles recognize his value but also understand the mathematical reality: in an offense with three other elite weapons, someone has to sacrifice touches.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth that makes Goedert’s situation fascinating: He might be the perfect player trapped in the wrong system. On 20 other NFL teams, those career numbers would represent a conservative estimate of his potential. Instead, they represent the ceiling of what’s possible when you’re eternally fourth in line.

The South Dakota State product has handled this reality with remarkable professionalism, never publicly complaining about his reduced role or demanding trades. But as he enters a contract year, the league is watching. Will Philadelphia finally prioritize keeping its Swiss Army knife, or will another team finally give Goedert the featured role his talent deserves?

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.

Rankings Suggest Eagles Lead NFL With Most Important Forgotten Weapon

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