All eyes are monitoring the situation with Carson Wentz, but he may not be the only notable name to leave the Philadelphia Eagles this off-season. While the Eagles are trying to get rid of their previous choice of second round and their heavy contract – not having much success in convincing others to pay the exorbitant price asked (supposedly, two first round choices) – there are now reports that they ‘ we are working on a multifaceted approach that can also result in the negotiation of the tight end Zach Ertz.
Specifically, it is reported that they contacted the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks to try to reach a commercial agreement for Ertz, according to SI.com’s Ed Kracz. Since the Colts have already been in negotiations with the Eagles to potentially acquire Wentz, but not at the price of Philadelphia, discussions about Ertz could potentially focus on packaging him in a deal that makes the Colts more apt to add compensation in order to take over the Wentz contract. As for the Seahawks, while Russell Wilson joined the wild and crazy QB headlines this season, talks about Ertz probably revolve around the Pro Bowl three times tight end and nothing more.
Coach Pete Carroll has been desperate to update his tight end unit for some time, and Ertz would instantly accomplish that mission. Any kind of exchange involving Wilson for Wentz would be seen as a big step in the wrong direction in the quarterback, so don’t count on it happening.
Another option that the Eagles have is to release Ertz immediately, but they obviously prefer to win something by losing him.
Given the circumstances, unless the Seahawks or someone else bet on Ertz, the Eagles could simply focus on using it as a sweetener for business with the Colts. The Eagles would save $ 4.7 million over the 2021 limit after eating $ 7.8 million in dead money (the same as a launch before June 1). Ertz is under contract until the 2023 season, but rock bottom fell in negotiations between the two sides last summer and has not improved since.
Ertz made his feelings on all of this clear at the opening of the 2020 season, when he unequivocally said he wanted to stay in Philadelphia.
“I’m an emotional guy when it comes to football,” said Ertz in September, via The Athletic.. “… It has been frustrating at times, it has been difficult. I always said I want to stay here for a long time.
“I don’t know if that feeling is mutual. I am going to play this year as if it were my last.”
It turns out that this statement may have been prophetic.
Seen as one of the best tight ends in football, Ertz achieved the fourth highest score in his position in 2019 (86.6, by PFF), before losing several games in 2020 due to an injury en route to one of his worst seasons as pro. Ertz saw George Kittle and Travis Kelce win his grand prize this off-season, one he believes he also deserves. But the Eagles don’t seem to agree, supposedly offering less guaranteed money in 2020 than in their 2019 offer, for Ian Rapoport of NFL Network – bringing conversations to an abrupt halt The latest offer also had less money in the next four seasons than the Browns’ deal with Austin Hooper, which is far less proven than Ertz, and was delayed.
Ertz confessed that the deterioration of his relationship with the Eagles mentally impacted him at camp and possibly in the season as well, but all he can do now is wait to see who will be the candidate in 2021, and whether he will be again with Wentz as his quarterback .