The Eagles signed Zach Ertz to an extension last year and watched him turn in a second straight season with 800-plus receiving yards. However, the team used Ertz’s contract to create some cap space today via restructure, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
Philadelphia converted $3.225MM of Ertz’s 2017 base salary into a guaranteed roster bonus, creating $2.58MM in cap space, Yates reports. Despite signing Torrey Smith, Alshon Jeffery and Nick Foles, Philly has not operated with much wiggle room in free agency, holding less than $6MM in cap space (only the Ravens have less at this juncture).
Connected to numerous potential trades and roster cuts — involving players like Jason Kelce, Mychal Kendricks, Chase Daniel and Jason Peters — the Eagles have been busy financially this month. Last year, the Eagles authorized numerous extensions to help push them up against the 2017 cap ceiling. A Daniel release, one that’s likely coming, will create $6MM in additional space, though.
Ertz will now make just $775K in base salary in his fifth season.