The Philadelphia Eagles have relied on tight end Dallas Goedert as a key, well-paid safety net for much of the season, with Goedert and the rest of the offense taking a back seat to running back Saquon Barkley in his pursuit of the NFL’s single-season rushing record.
Despite this, Goedert has still posted impressive numbers that most NFL tight ends would envy, recording 38 receptions for 441 yards and 2 touchdowns before being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury on December 7.
Although Goedert’s injury status allows for the possibility of a return for the regular-season finale against the New York Giants in Week 18, it’s uncertain whether he’ll be fully recovered by then or ready for the playoffs.
According to Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder, a potential replacement for Goedert could be former Washington Commanders tight end and current free agent Logan Thomas.
Holder suggested, “With Goedert on injured reserve, leaving the team thin at tight end, it might be wise for the Eagles to sign a veteran like Thomas to the practice squad. This would allow him to acclimate to the offense in case of an emergency during the postseason.”
Goedert Also One of NFL’s Highest Paid Tight Ends
Regardless of his production this season, Goedert remains one of the NFL’s highest-paid tight ends, having signed a 4-year, $57 million contract extension with the Eagles in November 2021.
Although he is still owed $14.25 million in 2025, the final year of his contract, the Eagles may consider finding a replacement sooner rather than later. Once his time on injured reserve concludes, Goedert will have missed 7 games in 2024, adding to the 25 games he’s already missed due to injuries over the past 5 seasons.
Thomas Played Like Elite NFL Tight End in 2023
Thomas joined the San Francisco 49ers in the offseason but was unexpectedly released by the team on August 27, despite having one of the best seasons of his decade-long NFL career in 2023 with the Washington Commanders. Thomas was one of the few bright spots for Washington during its challenging 4-13 campaign, finishing the season with 55 receptions, 496 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns.
This performance ranked him 19th among NFL tight ends in receiving yards—Goedert, by comparison, had 59 receptions for 592 yards and 3 touchdowns, benefiting from playing alongside Pro Bowl quarterback Jalen Hurts and All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 250 pounds, Thomas was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round (No. 120 overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft as a quarterback.
After one season there, he was released and spent 2015 as a backup quarterback with the Miami Dolphins. He then spent part of 2016 as a quarterback on the New York Giants‘ practice squad before transitioning to tight end and finishing the year on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad.
Thomas played for the Buffalo Bills in 2017 and 2018, then returned to the Lions in 2019 before having a breakout season with Washington in 2020. That year, he started 15 games, setting career highs with 72 receptions, 670 receiving yards, and 6 touchdowns, helping the team make its first playoff appearance since 2015.
In recognition of his performance, Washington extended Thomas with a 3-year, $24 million contract following the 2020 season. However, injuries limited him to just 6 games in 2021.
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