PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 24: Zach Ertz #86 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the Seattle Seahawks at Lincoln Financial Field on November 24, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Eagles could be trading tight end Zach Ertz in the coming days.
The 2021 league year has yet to start, but there has been massive turnover in the Philadelphia Eagles organization. The team parted ways with head coach Doug Pederson, released wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery and traded quarterback Carson Wentz. Based off a new report, they are not done yet.
According to NFL Media’s Mike Silver, multiple teams have called the Eagles regarding a trade for tight end Zach Ertz and that a move could happen in the coming days.
Eagles: Team was expected to part ways with Zach Ertz this offseason
Ertz’s exit from Philadelphia has long been expected. Prior to the start of the 2020 regular-season, contract negotiations between Ertz and the Eagles fell apart, meaning that a split was imminent. That was solidified at the end of season press conference, where Ertz had to hold back tears talking about his time in Philadelphia potentially nearing its end.
The 30-year-old tight end is set to earn $8.25 million in base salary for the 2021 season and the Eagles are currently $34.1 million over the salary cap threshold, per Over the Cap. If the Eagles were to trade Ertz in the coming days, they would free up approximately $4.9 million in cap space.
Ertz is coming off a down year with the Eagles, as he missed five games due to an ankle injury. But when he played, his production suffered. It certainly did not help that Wentz was playing horribly under center. In those 11 regular-season games, Ertz caught 36-of-72 targets for 335 yards and one touchdown.
There are plenty of teams that are in need of an upgrade at the tight end position and would likely take a chance on Ertz. Let’s not forget that in 2019, Ertz put up 88 receptions for 916 yards and six touchdowns. He was long considered a top-tier tight end in the NFL, and if he were to end up in the right destination, he could return to form.