Philadelphia Eagles: Zach Ertz isn’t going anywhere until post-free agency
While other teams hand out lucrative extensions, trade star linebackers for edge-rushing specialists, and generally prepare for the fun part of free agency, the Philadelphia Eagles are standing pat hoping that someone will offer up a Day 2 pick to take on Zach Ertz‘s contract.
And, if recent reports are to be believed, Ertz and his camp are starting to getting “antsy“.
Now, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Eagles are eagerly telling anyone who will listen that they are wholly content with keeping Ertz around for the 2021 season, but does anyone really believe that? Even if the Eagles could afford to keep Ertz at his current cap number – which they really can’t – it’s hard to see why they would want to keep around a tight end who is eager for a fresh start, especially after a down year in 2020.
But you know what they say; when it comes to making trades, it takes two to tango, and it’s hard to see a viable dance partner until the dust settles after free agency.
The Philadelphia Eagles may be wise to head onto Ertz until close to the draft.
More from Section 215
- 4 Eagles on the Bubble Who Have Clinched Their 53-Man Roster Spots
- Best Pennsylvania Sportsbook Promos: Win $650 GUARANTEED Bonus PLUS $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket
- 3 Punters the Eagles Must Target to Replace Arryn Siposs
- Cowboys Trey Lance Trade Proves How Screwed They Are With Dak Prescott
- Devon Allen Took Britain Covey’s Job on Eagles
By Over The Cap’s estimation, there are three free agent tight ends who are expected to sign contracts worth more than Zach Ertz’s $8.25 million cap hit in 2021: Hunter Henry, Kyle Rudolph, and Rob Gronkowski.
Of those three, only two, Henry and Rudolph, are expected to change teams, and normally, that would spell disaster for a team looking to trade a similarly talented player on a similar contract.
Unless you’re a GM who really likes Ertz’s game, why would you trade a pick to take on his contractor when you could use similar cap space to sign a younger option like Henry? You wouldn’t, right?
But, fortunately for the Eagles, after those three names come off the board – well, two really, no one expects Gronk to sign elsewhere – the market really dries up in regards to proven, starting-caliber tight end talent.
Sure there’s Jared Cook, who turns 34 before the season and may soon join Drew Brees in retirement, but after him, a tight end-needy team has to choose between overpaying an incomplete product like Jesse James, betting on an oft-injured player like Tyler Eifert, or taking their chances in the draft.
That, my friends, is the sweet spot where Howie Roseman should look to operate, between ‘Wave 1’ of free agency and the NFL Draft.
Imagine, if you will, a team like the Green Bay Packers (or whomever) really wants to land Henry but is ultimately outbid by a richer team like the Jaguars. While they could try to get in on the market for Rudolph, who is surely more attainable, he may already be signed by the time they get around to it.
Alternatively, what if a team like the Chargers loses a quality young tight end like Henry but wants to keep their young quarterback well-stocked offensively with a talented interior pass catcher? Even at 30, Ertz could be a quality player paired up with Justin Herbert for years to come, which may be enough to warrant paying up for his contract.
Those are the sort of teams, ones with a relatively complete roster looking for a safety blanket, who should be strongly considering a trade for Ertz’s services, even if he’s no longer the player he once was in 2017.
Next. Jalen Hurts spotted working out with Nelson Agholor. dark
As tough as it may be to watch the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning roster slowly get dismantled with each passing season, it’s clear moving on from Zach Ertz has become the only tenable situation for a team in serious need of getting younger and cheaper. While most fans would like nothing more than to see Ertz go to a nice new home – preferably Indianapolis with his best friend Carson Wentz – the front office will likely do what they feel is best to get back the best return possible, even if that means waiting out the initial wave of free agency for an antsy buyer to surface. An ideal situation? Heavens no, but one of Howie Roseman’s making.