PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Philadelphia Eagles and their former kicker stuck it to the Cowboys by drafting a kid named Dallas.
The Super Bowl champions selected tight end Dallas Goedert after trading up three spots in the second round to make their first pick in the draft. Six-time Pro Bowl kicker David Akers needled Cowboys fans when he made the announcement in their stadium.
“Hey Dallas, the last time you were in the Super Bowl, these draft picks weren’t born,” Akers shouted before announcing the selection.
After trading out of the first round Thursday night, the Eagles gave Indianapolis a second-round pick (No. 52) and fifth-round pick (No. 169) to get Goedert at No. 49. The 6-foot-5, 256-pound Goedert played four seasons at South Dakota State and is known for his pass-catching ability.
“Dallas is a blue-collar kid who works extremely hard. This was a guy we felt dominated at that level,” said Joe Douglas, the executive vice president of player personnel. “He can separate at the top of routes and he’s a guy who is going to be a friend to the quarterback.”
The Eagles jumped ahead of the Cowboys with the trade, taking a player who could’ve been on their radar after tight end Jason Witten announced his retirement.
Goedert, who grew up a Packers fan even though he got his name because his dad is a Cowboys fan, said he thought Dallas was going to draft him.
“I think Philadelphia might have thought that as well,” he said.
Howie Roseman, the Eagles executive vice president of football operations, said stealing Goedert from the team’s division rival wasn’t part of the thought process.
“We wanted to get one of the guys we had from yesterday’s list,” Roseman said.
Goedert had 72 catches for 1,111 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior after posting 92-1,293-11 as a junior. He’ll team with Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz to help Philadelphia’s offense create mismatches. The Eagles released veteran tight end Brent Celek and allowed Trey Burton to leave in free agency.
“It’s going to depth and competition to the position,” coach Doug Pederson said. “He’s a tremendous weapon we can utilize. It’s exciting to have a pick like this to add.”
Goedert shares the same agency with Carson Wentz, who went to North Dakota State. Wentz texted him after he was picked.
“Carson has talked to us about him and he’s excited,” Roseman said.
The Eagles didn’t have a third-round pick. They’ll enter Saturday with two picks in the fourth round and one each in the sixth and seventh.
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