As I have mentioned many times, I look at everything through Eagles colored lenses. What would they do, what fits their scheme? For the first time in five years, it is no longer as well-known as it used to be.
If the Eagles re-sign Dallas Goedert, and especially if they don’t, they need to elevate the tight end room with more talent. It is not about bringing in a superstar; it is about being a great fit.
The players listed below all have one aspect of their game that could interest the Eagles; the challenge will be finding which player is the right one to complement the offense, while also being a bridge to a younger player they draft in April. Could Howie Roseman and the Eagles see one of the players as someone who could be developed into a long-term contributor?
Njoku is a tight end who can block and also has some offensive capability. He would be a middle-of-the-field option, a red zone threat, and could stress a defense with YAC ability. He would be an experienced voice in the tight end room if Goedert leaves, and he fits well if the Eagles draft a tight end high, as his production is not dependent on high-volume targets.
Likely is a receiver who plays tight end. He is a ball tracker, a vertical threat, and can be moved around the field like a chess piece. He is more of a tight end two, like Njoku, in my opinion, but he would be an upgrade over what the Eagles have had at that position over the last couple of years as a receiver.
Kolar is one of my favorite free agent fits for Philadelphia. He uses his frame well in 12 personnel, and his length and leverage allow him to body defenders. Another red zone threat as a receiver, also in play action, but the value would be as a run blocker. He seems like a player who has not reached his ceiling and would be a sneaky buy-low candidate for the Birds.
He is young, a solid performer who annually puts up 60 catches, 600 yards, and averages three touchdowns a season. He has worked with Grizzard at Tampa, and he was a reliable weapon on offense for them to lean on. I sound like a broken record, but again, he is more of a tight end two than a featured weapon like Goedert was. Cade would be an upgrade as a TE2, but it shouldn't move the dial for the Eagles not drafting a long-term number one tight end.
Chig isn't often asked to block, and with his 240-pound frame, that isn't a bad thing. He put up 560 receiving yards to go with his 56 receptions, both career highs, in 2025. He plays the position like a large slot receiver, and his lack of blocking might make Philadelphia look elsewhere, but he could fill a role in a tight end room that is barren if Dallas leaves. He will not make much of a difference in the run game, but as a receiver, he could make enough noise to justify the price as the second option in the room.
Pitts would have been the ceiling play. Body type, stride, and a lot left on the bone made him a desirable fit. Atlanta seems to be paying for what he is capable of being, not what he has been. The Eagles weren’t paying that.
Mayer arrived in the NFL ready to make an impact with a pro-ready mindset and great hands. Still only 24 years old, he has made 32 NFL starts and has many years left to make an impact. He is good at working underneath and finding weak spots in zone coverage. He would raise the floor, move the chains, and be a player who could elevate his game in Philadelphia, which he has not had the opportunity to do so far in Vegas. Since the Raiders drafted Brock Bowers, Mayer has seemed like a player they would move. Maybe this is the year.
The Eagles are not looking for the most talented tight end in one area of their game; they are looking for the guy who fits their offensive structure.
All of the above bring an element to the offense, but not a complete package. One works the middle of the field; another is a chess piece you move around the formation; two others would bring a high floor and red-zone ability; and one additional could fit their blocking scheme.
I do not think any of these tight ends, if the Eagles were to sign or trade for one, would factor into their decision of selecting a tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft. All of these players would be a complement, except possibly Mayer, who could be a long-term answer.
Among the free agents, my best fit would be Charlie Kolar, and I would draft Eli Stowers, Oscar Delp, or Tanner Koziol to pair with him.
The Eagles do not need a big-ticket free agent; they need a physical presence who fits their scheme.
Who would you like to see them target?
As always, thank you for reading!
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