Outside of quarterback, the Philadelphia Eagles tight end is probably the easiest position to predict heading into the 2017 season. With the arrival of head coach Doug Pederson, three tight end sets have become a norm. The only thing that seems to shake up with this unit is which one is going to receive the most targets on any given Sunday. The running joke has been when Zach Ertz is finally going to have the breakout season we’ve been waiting for. Will it be this season? Only time will tell.
The State of the Philadelphia Eagles Tight Ends
Current Tight Ends
Zach Ertz
Trey Burton
Brent Celek
Anthony Denham
Billy Brown
In case there was any confusion, the Eagles are only going to retain three tight ends to the active roster barring an unforeseen change in philosophy by Coach Pederson. With that said, it is pretty easy to see that the three players that will be kept are Ertz, Burton and Celek. Let’s take a look at how they will shake out.
In his first four seasons as a pro, Ertz has tallied 247 catches, 2,840 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has consistently improved in all statistical categories throughout his career. The Stanford product showed flashes of his potential at being elite, showing up down the stretch of the 2016 season and clearly growing a connection with quarterback Carson Wentz. The knock on Ertz is that he has not shown to be a dominant force in the red zone despite his impressive size (6’5″, 249 lbs), but he will look to change this after a full offseason and training camp with Wentz.
Celek has been the definition of a class act and a true pro while being in Philadelphia. He has played his entire career here and fans, coaches and teammates alike are forever grateful. However, Celek’s days of being a threat in the passing game are behind him. The best asset he brings to the table now is his blocking ability. Celek also is a vocal guy, which proves valuable with the youth this team has as a whole. Celek will not blow anyone away with his numbers, but the dirty work he provides for the team is almost just as important.
Burton had the best year of his young career last season, racking up 37 catches and 327 yards along with one touchdown. His numbers were not stellar, but Burton poses a threat on the field that defenses need to respect. Burton has a lot of raw, physical tools that teams always are looking for in tight ends. Now sporting number 88, look for Burton to be the compliment that Ertz needs, but don’t expect him to be your starter on your fantasy lineup.
Overall, I think that the with the plethora of additions to this offense, the Eagles will be able to use these players as a luxury rather than necessity. Alshon Jeffrey will command a lot of attention while in the red zone, allowing Ertz to find and sit in open pockets in the defense. Wentz will now be able to pick and choose his targets, keeping defensive coordinators on their toes. There is no reason to believe that the Eagles will now be scary in the redzone, an area they severely struggled in last season.
