Almost in parallel to Wentz, Ertz looked like a shell of himself early this season (7.4 yards per catch and just less than 4.0 yards per target through the first six games). Then he landed on IR with an ankle injury, and returned in Week 13 with six catches on 13 targets over those recent three games.
Ertz was a Pro Bowler three straight years before this one, and he had over 100 targets in five straight seasons from 2015-2019. As he crosses into his 30s now, is this year an aberration brought on by a struggling quarterback and physical issues (hidden or otherwise) of his own? Or is it a sign of things to come?
In any case, the Eagles have a capable (and cheaper) tight end in Dallas Goedert. Ertz carries a $12.47 million cap hit for 2021, and according to Over The Cap his contract voids on February 23, 2022. So it’s no wonder he’d like a new contract, but it seems extension talks went nowhere fast prior to the season.
Speaking of extensions: The #Eagles reengaged on contract talks with TE Zach Ertz, which makes sense after 2 stars at the position got paid. Ertz’s stats put him on a historic pace, with more yards (5,743 vs 5,647) and catches (525 vs 468) than HOFer Tony Gonzalez thru 7 seasons.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 25, 2020
Sources: Negotiations between the #Eagles and TE Zach Ertz came to an abrupt halt when PHI made an offer that had less guaranteed money than their offer in November. The backloaded offer also had less cash over the next 4 seasons annually than Austin Hooper’s #Browns contract.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 3, 2020
Zach Ertz says he wants to stay with the Eagles.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) September 10, 2020
"I don't know for sure if that feeling is mutual."
Ertz says he will play this season "as if this is my last year."
"I don't think it should be too hard to get a deal done now."
Of course Ertz has followed the derailment of talks about a new contract with the worst year of his career (whether that’s all his fault or not). There is a difference in the dead money/cap savings split in trading him before or after June 1, which should be noted. But the Eagles shouldn’t carry a lot of regard for that difference if they can move him elsewhere for any sort of asset, and thus easily open the door for Goedert to be their clear No. 1 tight end.