The Philadelphia Eagles gave tight end Zach Ertz permission to seek a trade, and should find a strong market for one of the game’s premier pass-catchers
One of the NFL’s most prolific tight ends could be on the move in coming days, as the Philadelphia Eagles have granted Zach Ertz permission to seek a trade, and a robust market has already developed.
It isn’t a surprise that several teams have sights set on Ertz, 30, who has proven to be among the more dominant pass-catchers at the position, a willing blocker, and a consummate leader with a Super Bowl ring on his finger.
Through the first eight seasons of his career, Ertz has caught 561 passes for 6,078 yards and 36 touchdowns, while averaging 10.8 yards per reception.
Coming off an injury-riddled campaign in 2020, as former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson seemed to prefer Dallas Goedert in the passing game, Philadelphia’s offense sputtered as Ertz caught just 36 passes for 335 yards and a touchdown.
However, after Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith both agreed to terms with the New England Patriots this week, Ertz is easily the most consistently dominant tight end available this offseason. Smith has never produced more than 450 receiving yards, and Henry’s career high of 652 is a number Ertz has eclipsed six times in his career.
Smith and Henry quickly getting scooped off the market should also help give Eagles general manager Howie Roseman leverage to find a trade partner, for a player he has been trying to move all offseason, if not longer.
Teams with young quarterbacks, as well as contenders looking for a potentially game-altering weapon alike should be interested in trading for Ertz.
Here’s a look at Ertz’s three best fits as the trade rumors swirl:
3) Kansas City Chiefs
Could the immensely rich get even richer?
According to a report from The Athletic‘s Nate Taylor, the Kansas City Chiefs have shown interest in trading for Ertz.
There certainly wouldn’t be a more lucrative landing spot for Ertz, who would have a legitimate chance to chase his second Super Bowl ring, on a team that will perennially be favored to hoist the Lombardi as long as Patrick Mahomes is behind center.
Pairing Ertz and All-Pro Travis Kelce in the same offense, with wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s speed on the outside, would be an embarrassment of riches for Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense. Ertz would also fit right in, after averaging 3.1 yards after contact in 2019 (his last fully-healthy season) alongside Kelce, who averaged 5.6 last season.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is nothing if not aggressive, and Kansas City has shown a propensity in recent years to boldly collect veteran players to surround Mahomes with to fuel a high octane offense.
If Kansas City can work some magic to create cap space, trading for Ertz is exactly the kind of counter-punch to the Buccaneers’ pass-rush barrage that powered Tampa Bay’s upset victory in Super Bowl LV.