The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles saw a mass exodus of players leave in NFL free agency, which was almost expected given the number of young players on the roster, who could be due for a pay raise in the coming year or two.
That said, the Eagles will try to be aggressive in the 2025 NFL Draft, as they look to add more talent to their defense and potentially a replacement for veteran tight end Dallas Goedert, who is still on the roster.
Below, we’ll touch on two Eagles players still on the roster who might not be with the team when the calendar flips to May.
1. Dallas Goedert, Tight End
The 30-year-old tight end has seen his name floated in trade rumors for several weeks, making it only a matter of time before the Eagles move on from Goedert. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, Goedert remains a name to watch on the trade block with the NFL draft only a week away.
Schultz mentions that interested teams believe the Eagles would be open to taking future draft picks in a potential Goedert deal, if they don’t get any 2025 draft compensation. It makes sense why potential suitors would say that, as this is a good tight end draft class, and Goedert is in the final year of his deal.
If Goedert stayed healthy over the last few years, who knows? The two sides could have come to terms on an extension. However, if the veteran tight end is looking for a new deal, it opens the door for the Eagles to find his replacement.
The former second-round pick missed seven games last season due to a hamstring injury and knee strain. In the other 10 games he played, Goedert had 42 receptions (52 targets) for 496 yards and two touchdowns.
While it wasn’t a typical Goedert season, the veteran tight end showed up in the postseason, posting 17 receptions (20 targets) for 215 yards and a touchdown.
In 2023, Goedert played in 14 games, which was the second-most of his career. But he missed three games with a broken forearm. Then in 2022, the former South Dakota State star played 12 games as he missed five with a shoulder injury.
When healthy, Goedert is one of the better tight ends in the league as he’s an adequate blocker and receiver. There aren’t many tight ends in the NFL who can do both exceptionally well. If the Eagles part ways with the veteran, it will be tough to replace him. However, Roseman and his staff likely have a plan to fill his void.
2. Byron Young, Defensive End
The Eagles are well-known for drafting players in the trenches, and we shouldn’t expect them to do anything different.
Philadelphia has a boatload of draft picks and will use them to get more firepower on the d-line, which isn’t great news for Byron Young. The Eagles took a flyer on the former third-round pick last season, claiming him off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders released Young at the end of training camp last August after only playing in six games as a rookie. However, the former Alabama defender got a second chance, joining an Eagles’ defense with a nice mix of young players and vets.
That said, Young did not see the field in his first year as he was placed on injured reserve in October with a hamstring injury. There was a chance that Young could’ve seen the field in the playoffs, possibly, or been activated.
The Eagles designated the former Raiders’ draft pick to return from IR on Jan. 8, opening up his 21-day practice window. However, the Eagles never activated Young ahead of Super Bowl LIX.
Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see if Young sticks around, especially if the Eagles add more pass rushers at the defensive end spot. Philly could use more depth with Josh Sweat in Arizona, Brandon Graham announcing his retirement, and Bryce Huff having a disappointing first year in the City of Brotherly Love.