The Philadelphia Eagles and Zach Ertz are still together for the time being. It was reported back in May Ertz would not participate in the Eagles’ offseason program and everything indicates that he won’t be back on the team.
Unless the unforeseen happens, the Eagles could act before the 2021 season or release Ertz directly. Mike Kaye of NJ Advance Media has a list of potential targets for the former all-pro tight end.
Trade or release, now that the calendar has turned to June, Ertz could soon be on the move.
According to Kaye, the Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City and Indianapolis Colts are possible targets for Ertz next season.
Kaye added the bills that would put Ertz on the shortlist of Super Bowl favorites in the AFC due to her reorganization of star receiver Stefon Diggs’ contract.
“The Bills and Ertz have seemed like a match for months,” wrote Kaye. “The Bills are going all in while Josh Allen is still on his rookie contract, and Ertz would end up providing a massive upgrade. Surrounded by guns, Ertz could boost his inventory for the next off-season by being a key cog on the Bill’s offensive. The Eagles might try to get a day 3 pick from Buffalo. The restructuring of Diggs is very interesting. “
Ertz enters the final year of a five-year contract for $ 42.5 million. According to Spotrac, he is slated to earn a salary of $ 8,250,000 for the 2021-2022 season.
Back in March the Eagles gave Ertz permission to seek a deal and it appeared to be the best opportunity for Philadelphia to swap the all-pro during the draft, but nothing seemed to turn out.
As far as he could go, Indianapolis was a hot place. The Colts were traded against the former No. 2 overall pick and the Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and there were initially some thoughts that it might be a package deal. Reports surfaced as early as March that the Eagles were able to sell Ertz to Indianapolis even after the Wentz swap.
Before the 2020 season, Ertz made it public that he wanted a contract extension. Ertz is not yet past his prime, but last season Ertz had the worst statistical season of his career.
Last season, Ertz finished with 36 catches (with his rookie season low for career), 335 yards, one touchdown, and 9.3 yards per catch. In his career, Ertz has 561 catches, 6,078 yards, 36 touchdowns and 10.8 yards per catch. Ertz is # 2 all-time in catches, # 5 all-time in Eagles history in yards, and # 7 all-time in touchdowns.
Ertz also hit record highs when he set the all-time NFL record for the most close-ending catches in 2018 at 116 in a single season in NFL history. He also set an Eagles record for most catches in a game at 15.
Ertz reached the climax of his Eagles career when he won the Super Bowl LII game in Philadelphia’s victory over the New England Patriots. But his best statistical year came after the Super Bowl in 2018, when he finished with 116 catches, 1,163 yards, eight touchdowns, and 10 yards per catch.
