By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Eagles made their first selection in the NFL Draft after trading back with the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night, and then trading their 52nd overall pick three spots up to No. 49 to take tight end Dallas Goedert of South Dakota State.
The Eagles traded up and took Goedert one pick ahead of the Dallas Cowboys, who are dealing with the reported retirement of long-time TE Jason Witten.
With Goedert, he replaces Trey Burton, who left the Eagles earlier in the offseason in free agency to join the Chicago Bears.
In four seasons at South Dakota State, Goedert compiled 2,988 career receiving yards, 21 touchdowns on 198 receptions.
He caught 72 passes for 1,111 yards and seven touchdowns in his senior season, just below his 92 catch, 1,293 yard, 11 TD junior campaign. During his career, Goedert has averaged 15.1 yards per catch, making him a real deep ball threat.
Here is NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein's scouting report overview on the Eagles' new pass-catcher.
Goedert is a very talented pass catching tight end with the ability to work all three levels of the field. His ball focus and ability to make the spectacular catch will make him the darling of fans and media throughout the draft process, but, he still has work to do. Goedert dominated a lower level of competition and will have to prove he can uncover and block against bigger, more explosive athletes as a pro. The size, speed and talent is there for him to succeed as a very good combo tight end if he works and plays with a little more urgency.
Probably the most important thing about Zierlein's scouting report on Goedert is that his pro comp for the tight end is Eagles' TE Zach Ertz.
Ertz and Goedert lining up in two TE sets? Deadly combination.
Both of ESPN's draft analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. had Goedert listed as a first round prospect. Goedert was McShay's top tight end prospect.
Even though the Eagles had to trade down and then back up again, getting Goedert with the 49th pick in the second round brings a ton of value to the selection for the quality of player they're getting in return.
