We may be on the verge of the official end of Zach Ertz’s term in Philadelphia. According Michael Silver of the NFL Network, several teams called the Eagles about their veteran tight end and a deal could happen in the next few days. Ertz has been the subject of exchange rumors for quite some time, after he and the team were unable to agree on an extension. The club reportedly tried to keep him out of time last season, but an ankle injury prevented any serious commercial negotiations from being carried out. Now, the 30-year-old is healthy and his days in Philadelphia seem to be numbered.
Ertz, who spent his entire eight-year career with the Eagles, even agreed to his potential divorce from the organization during a tearful press conference with the media in the aftermath of the 2020 season.
Ertz has another year left on his current contract and was widely considered a candidate to possibly be cut off by the Eagles for limit purposes if they were unable to find a business partner. Philadelphia has one of the worst salary cap situations in the league today and needs to cut about $ 34 million just to meet the projected $ 180 million salary cap for 2021. Cutting the bait with Ertz, Philadelphia would clean up about $ 4 , 7 million of his cap.
It is unclear what Ertz’s commercial value will be, but the fact that several teams are asking how to bring him on board must mean that Philadelphia could receive solid compensation for the three-time Pro Bowler. In the case of Ertz, in fact, being moved, the Eagles have Dallas Goedert as the internal option to replace him as the initial tight end. In 11 games played last season, Goedert pitched 46 passes for 524 yards and three touchdowns.