The Zach Ertz / Eagles saga appears to be nearing an end. Philadelphia has given the veteran tight end permission to seek his own trade, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Rapsheet notes that “several teams have been engaged.” The two sides have been headed for divorce for quite some time now, and things have been ramping up lately. A little over a week ago we heard that a trade could come soon, and it was reported over the weekend that the Eagles were seeking a third or fourth-round pick for Ertz.
So far nobody has been willing to meet that asking price since Ertz is now 30 and coming off a down year. Meanwhile, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that Ertz isn’t looking for a new contract as part of a trade and is willing to play out the final year of his deal, which should make things a bit easier (Twitter video link).
From Philly’s perspective they’ve got Dallas Goedert waiting in the wings, which makes Ertz expendable. He clashed with management this past year, and even got into a heated argument with GM Howie Roseman at one point over his contract.
Ertz has one more season left on his current deal with an $8.25MM salary and $12.4MM cap hit. Trading or cutting him would save the Eagles almost $5MM in cap space, but also leave almost $8MM in dead money. Ertz is coming off easily his worst season as a pro, but he made the Pro Bowl in 2019 and was a first-team All-Pro in 2018.
The team reportedly considered trading him around last year’s deadline, but an ankle injury nixed those talks. Ertz has been easily one of the best tight ends in the league the past handful of years, and it’s not hard to envision him having a bounce back campaign in 2021 wherever he lands.
Chargers or Colts for a 5/6th round pick.
He’s had back to back down years, on an expensive contract. These two teams have a need at TE and have the cap space to take Ertz. Both are win now teams that if they got Ertz to find some form would be very good next season.
Chargers would be a great fit. They have a great line just need a tight end and maybe an burner wr like will fuller to stretch field. Another edge rusher would be nice as well
They’ve got the burner jaylon guyton he’s very will fuller like. I agree with u about the de though.
Can probably grab some reinforcements in the draft. Should be able to get another OL, DE, WR and whatever else. Should be a good year for the chargers
Pretty sure this isn’t new news. I thought he would end up in NE for sure but after Jonnu and HH I guess not. I’d like to see him with a young QB like Burrow. He’d be a mimics fit in GB as well.
Nice
Kittle and Ertz would be filthy
Still have a garbage qb, as long as he is your qb niners won’t win a title. That would change if they got Watson though
Buffalo
Agreed, any deep threat WR on the trade block?
Bengals would be a great fit
To the Bears for a 6th round and TE Harris and next year (5th rd’er)
Ravens make sense too
Ertz will have a bounce back season. He was injured for part of the season and Wentz was brutal. He’s also playing for a contract. I believe the Bills are the best team for him. They have a good QB and a TE with hands would really open the field on offense. A fifth round pick will get this done.
The 2021-22 season will be a disaster for the Eagles. They have a few way past their prime veterans and will have a bunch of unproven young players this year. Even with 11 draft picks the Eagles have no history of good draft picks over the last few years and they have no money for free agents.This will be ugly.
Sad to (probably) see him go, but it seems like he no longer wants to be in Philly. Get a 4th and draft Pitts to replace him
5th or 6th round pick if they are lucky…