Among the more interesting upcoming decisions for the Philadelphia Eagles is the future of veteran tight end Dallas Goedert. The pass catcher is slated to hit free agency at the end of the season and will be one of the top options at the position slated to hit the market. With this in mind, it is very possible that Philly opts for a change, with one clear option presenting itself on Thursday Night Football.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts had the best game of his career by far, putting up 166 receiving yards and a trio of touchdowns. It was the type of performance that put him back on everyone's radar, and the Eagles shouldn't be an exception. After all, Pitts is not only an upcoming unrestricted free agent, too, but he's also a Philadelphia native, making him an exciting offseason option.
When March arrives, the Eagles' options are to re-sign Goedert or look at a crop of free agents that include Pitts, Austin Hooper, David Njoku, Taysom Hill, and Tyler Higbee. Out of these options, it is beyond clear that Pitts has the most talent and fits Philly's timeline of contention at only 25 years old.
Kyle Pitts Is the Perfect Dallas Goedert Replacement
Looking at a comparison of Goedert and Pitts' 2025 stats, the reasons that the current Falcon is the right offseason addition become all the clearer.
2025 Statistics | Dallas Goedert | Kyle Pitts |
|---|---|---|
Games Played | 12 | 14 |
Targets | 66 | 97 |
Receptions | 48 | 73 |
Receiving Yards | 481 | 797 |
Touchdowns | 7 | 4 |
Yards Per Catch | 10.0 | 10.9 |
Yards Per Game | 40.1 | 56.9 |
On top of the above stats, Pitts is also five years younger than Goedert as well, who will be 31 before the end of the 2025 season. Whether it's due to injury or aging, Goedert's efficiency has been down this year, so it makes sense to replace him with a younger, more talented option.
Pitts is picking the right time to show improvement as well, averaging 56.9 yards per game, a number that is more than 20 yards above last season's total. On top of this, the fifth-year TE is averaging by far the best catch percentage of his career at 75.3%, and while Goedert is sitting at a reliable 72.7%, it's worth noting that's a stark contrast from last season's rate (80.8%).
Philly clearly has A.J. Brown, Saquon Barkley, and DeVonta Smith, who need to be fed the football consistently. When the offense is healthy, there isn't always going to be a path to Pitts being a focal point of the offense, which is what he's used to in Atlanta, playing alongside the likes of Drake London and Bijan Robinson. The difference here is that the Eagles' offense and coaching staff are much more talented than what Pitts is currently dealing with.
Another aspect of this is the mismatch that Pitts is at 6'6" while offering surprising speed for a target of his frame. Said speed was on display on Thursday night multiple times, including when he scurried into the end zone from the eight-yard line in the blink of an eye for his first touchdown of the night.
Goedert is a Philly fan favorite, through and through, but all good things must eventually end. That isn't to say that Pitts can completely fill his void — especially on a personal level — but it's clear that the Falcons' pass-catcher is the Eagles' best TE option this offseason. And after Thursday's breakout, that's even clearer.