While Ladd McConkey proved himself as a legitimate WR1 for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024, it’s clear that Justin Herbert needs additional offensive weapons heading into the 2025 season. Outside of McConkey, no other receiver consistently created separation, limiting the Chargers’ ability to compete as a serious Super Bowl contender.
The issue extends beyond wide receiver, as the tight end position is also a weak spot for the Chargers. The team recently signed veteran tight end Tyler Conklin to help address the problem, but relying solely on him won’t be enough to strengthen their passing attack.
Many fans are hoping that Michigan’s Colston Loveland will be available when the Chargers make their first-round pick, but that scenario is far from guaranteed. Given the uncertainty, the Chargers may need to be proactive to secure a reliable pass-catching tight end before the draft.
In a recent trade proposal by Ian Valentino of The 33rd Team, the Chargers take an aggressive approach. Valentino outlines a scenario where the team trades the 158th and 209th overall picks to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for tight end Dallas Goedert, a proven pass-catching option at the position.
Would the Chargers really land Dallas Goedert at this price?
Goedert has been one of the most productive receiving tight ends in the league in recent years and would immediately provide the Chargers with the reliable target they currently lack at the position.
At first glance, this trade seems almost too good to be true. Moving just a fifth-round pick and one of their multiple sixth-round selections for a household name like Goedert appears to be an incredible bargain. Most Chargers fans would jump at this deal without hesitation, given Goedert’s reputation.
However, name recognition doesn’t always equate to actual value, and Goedert exemplifies this. While he has been a respected figure in the league, his production has not quite lived up to expectations in recent seasons.
Injuries have plagued Goedert over the last three years, limiting his overall impact. He has missed a total of 15 games in that span and has averaged just 49.7 receiving yards per game. In 2024, he played only 10 games, finishing with 496 yards—far from elite production for a top-tier tight end.
Additionally, the financial implications of trading Goedert make the deal more complicated than it initially appears. The Eagles would take on over $9 million in dead cap space if they traded him before June 1. While a post-June 1 trade would allow Philadelphia to save just over $4 million, that would delay the Chargers’ ability to benefit from the move ahead of the draft.
Furthermore, Goedert’s contract includes a void year in 2026 that carries a massive $23 million cap hit. While restructuring could help ease the financial burden for the Chargers, the team also has no obligation to bail the Eagles out of their current salary-cap situation.
Ultimately, while the idea of acquiring a proven tight end like Goedert at a bargain price is enticing, the reality of his injury history and contract complexities may make this deal more trouble than it’s worth for the Chargers.
It sounds too good to be true because it is. Not because it’s a great price for Goedert, but because Goedert isn’t actually a viable trade target who would help the Chargers.
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