The Philadelphia Eagles gave themselves some Dallas Goedert insurance at the start of the new league year by signing a pair of free agent tight ends in Harrison Bryant and Kylen Granson.
With Goedert now officially back in the fold after agreeing to a restructured, one-year contract, Philly will have some decisions to make with its tight end room come training camp.
The Eagles have a pair of obvious roster locks in Goedert and Grant Calcaterra who at times were the only active TEs on the roster in 2024. Philly also has an intriguing young pass-catching prospect in E.J. Jenkins, who made the most of his opportunities last summer.
In all likelihood, only one of GM Howie Roseman’s two tight end additions from March will make the initial 53-man roster as the team’s No. 3 tight end, with Jenkins likely to stick with the team on the practice squad.
Josh Davis of The Philly Special Show predicts Bryant to be the odd man out this August.
“I’ll take Kylen Granson,” Davis said. “I’ve seen several thoughts on Harrison Bryant as well, but if I’m choosing between the two, I’ll take Granson’s athleticism. And, oh yeah, the fact that he was the ninth-best blocking tight end in the league last year gives him just a little bit of a leg up.”
Bryant offers the Eagles an intriguing profile at 6-foot-5, and he’s the better receiver of the two with 98 career catches and 10 touchdowns. He was also utilized as a short-yardage rusher at times during his stint with the Cleveland Browns, so it’s possible Philly wanted a closer look at those skills in the case of a “tush-push” ban.
The tush push is here to stay, however, at least in 2025, so the early edge here has to go to Granson, who to Davis’ point was the far superior blocker. His pass protection in particular scored a 78.3 grade from PFF last season.
It’s highly unlikely the Eagles will keep four tight ends, as they’re more likely to keep an extra offensive lineman or defensive back. There should be several key training camp battles on the edges of the roster this August, and Granson vs. Bryant will be front and center.
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