6 NFL players ready to make the leap in their third seasons

1. Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

Dallas Goedert already put together an impressive sophomore campaign, but he can do more. One of the league’s premier blocking tight ends, Goedert is the definition of a dual-threat. George Kittle is the only tight end who outclasses Goedert when analyzing pass-catching and run-blocking abilities simultaneously. By the end of 2020, Goedert should rank among the top ten tight ends in the NFL.

Last season, Goedert played 66 percent of Philadelphia’s offensive snaps while Zach Ertz played 80 percent. Goedert produced 58 receptions for 607 yards and five touchdowns while Ertz made 88 receptions for 916 yards and six touchdowns. They’re the best tight end duo in the NFL, and it’s not close.

However, the Eagles could start pushing the envelope as Ertz enters his age-30 season. The three-time Pro Bowler has two years remaining on his current contract, but Philadelphia could release him following the 2020 season. The team will incur nearly $7.8 million in dead cap if they choose that route.

Instead of releasing Ertz following this coming season, the Eagles could begin shifting targets and snaps from the Pro Bowler to Goedert. The Minnesota Vikings began the same process this past season, taking snaps from Kyle Rudolph and giving them to Irv Smith Jr. While Ertz is still a Pro Bowl player, Goedert potentially possesses a higher-ceiling, and he’s Philadelphia’s future at tight end.

Goedert might not reach a superstar level until Ertz’s current contract ends, but he’s well on his way to becoming one of the most impactful players at his position. Sometimes, he flies under the radar because people view him as Ertz’s backup, but that’s far from reality. Goedert is already better than many of the league’s starters, and he’ll take more steps forward in 2020.