Bills and 3 playoff contenders that should trade for Zach Ertz
The Eagles and Zach Ertz appear headed for a split, so these three playoff contenders should make a call to trade for the former Pro Bowl tight end.
June 1 is typically part of a relatively dead period for the NFL, apart from some notable cuts that were designated post-June 1 to open up cap space for some teams. But this year is different, with trade talk swirling around Julio Jones and Aaron Rodgers. Which makes it easy to forget about Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz.
When contract extension talks seemed to start and end quickly just before last season started, Ertz’s future in Philadelphia was up in the air. Then he had a rough season, with 36 catches for 335 yards and a touchdown in 11 games. With the final non-voidable year of his contract coming in 2021, it seemed a matter of when not if Ertz would be gone. He has not shown up to any offseason work thus far, to the surprise of no one.
Trade rumors surfaced this offseason, but Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has made it clear Ertz will not be given away. Once 4 p.m. ET Tuesday passes, the Eagles can clear $8.5 million in cap space (with $4.2 million in dead money) by trading or cutting him. Cutting him does not appear to be on the radar, but a trade is now going to be far easier.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, at least three “tight end-needy teams” have looked into a deal for Ertz.
Talks on a potential Zach Ertz trade have been ongoing for quite some time but fairly quiet of late. At least three TE-needy teams have looked into this. Eagles have made clear they won't part for nothing in return, making a release unlikely. Things could pick back up this week.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 1, 2021
Ertz is not far removed from being one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL. The trade market will pick up now, and these three teams should be at the front of the line.
3 playoff contenders who should trade for Zach Ertz
3. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers lost tight end Hunter Henry in free agency, and replaced him with Jared Cook. They have close to $20 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, and the idea of further loading up the offense with weapons around Justin Herbert is surely on the radar (Julio Jones?).
The Eagles may prefer to send him out of the NFC, though they will play the Chargers Week 9 this season. Ertz is from California, so the Chargers might appeal to him if he has a choice in destination.
A trade for Ertz depends on the Eagles asking price, and how that meets the reality of what they can get. If a Day 3 draft pick would get it done, and at this point it might, that’s an easy price for the Chargers to pay.