Nick Sirianni gets honest about what Eagles are looking for in next tight end ahead of 2025 NFL Draft

Tight end is one of the positions that the Philadelphia Eagles could be targeting when the 2025 NFL Draft gets here next week. 

That's because the rumor has it they're looking to trade veteran tight end Dallas Goedert away and thinking about the future of the depth room with Grant Calacterra set to play out the final year of his rookie year. 

While speaking to reporters on Tuesday ahead of the draft, head coach Nick Sirianni gave a brief rundown on what the team looks for in a tight end. 

“Always looking for a guy that can make plays with the ball in his hand and be able to have the ability, first of all, to be a factor in the run game and helping you out in the run game,” Sirianni said, “which is one of the harder matchups in the NFL -- a defensive end vs. a tight end, and there’s other ways around that, but not a liability in the run game also."

The Eagles haven't been linked to many tight ends recently, which suggests it's not a priority need. However, they reportedly did host Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson for a Top 30 visit and met formally with LSU's Mason Taylor and Texas's Gunnar Helm at the NFL combine. 

Gunnar Helm Makes a Ton of Sense for the Eagles

Of the ones listed above, Helm makes the most sense. 

Similar to Goedert, Helm is a blocking-first tight end who can also catch. Helm also had nothing but great things to say about Goedert, Calcaterra, and more during media day at the combine.

"I think my body is pretty similar to Calcaterra, I love watching him. I love watching Dallas Goedert. Obviously, he’s been with the Eagles for a long time,” Helm told The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Devin Jackson at the combine. “I like to say I take a lot of stuff from his game when I watch him on film. To be able to learn from Dallas Goedert and from Calcaterra and that offense, and be able to play alongside guys like Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and block for guys like that, I think it would be a blessing in itself.”

The 6-foot-5 and 250-pound Texas product enters the draft following a breakout year with the Longhorns, reeling in 60 receptions for 786 yards and seven touchdowns.

Helm is the sixth-ranked tight end in this year's draft class and a projected mid-third-round pick. The Eagles are set to pick at No. 97 in Round 3, so pending how interested they are in Helm, they may need to trade up a few spots to snag him. That, however, shouldn't be a problem for general manager Howie Roseman.