Former Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz has been traded. The 30-year-old spent part of nine seasons in Philadelphia, making three Pro Bowls, one First-Team All-Pro, and was a part of the Eagles team that won the Super Bowl in 2017. Ertz missed five games due to injury in 2020 and recorded career lows in receiving yards and touchdowns while tying his career-low in receptions. He will turn 31 years old in November, meaning the Zach Ertz trade could not have come at a better time for the veteran pass-catcher.
Trade: Eagles are sending three-time Pro Bowl TE Zach Ertz to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for CB Tay Gowan and a 2022 5th-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/lUlic7y0Oa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 15, 2021
Zach Ertz Traded to Arizona Cardinals
Ertz, out of Stanford, was selected with the 35th-overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. He was the second tight end selected that year behind Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifert, who was taken 21st-overall.
Ertz entered the Eagles tight end room as the favorite to claim the second-string role behind veteran Brent Celek. Here, Celek and Ertz formed an intriguing tight end duo. They collectively recorded 108 receptions, 971 yards, and 10 touchdowns. Ertz did not catch a touchdown until Week 9 of his rookie year but broke out against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13 when he caught five passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns.
Throughout his time in Philadelphia, Ertz turned into perhaps the best receiving tight end in Eagles history. He currently ranks second all-time in franchise history in receptions, fifth in receiving yards, and seventh in touchdown receptions. Ertz had turned in six straight seasons of 58-plus receptions and 700-plus receiving yards before 2020— earning Pro Bowl honors as recently as 2019. Since being drafted in 2013, Ertz has the second-most receptions and receiving yards among tight ends, behind only Travis Kelce.
While Ertz has had a history of production as an Eagle, he has also had a history of injuries. Since entering the NFL, he has played a full 16-game season just three times in eight years. His latest injury stint came last season when Ertz sustained an ankle injury Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens. He had just 12 receptions in his five games after returning from the injury Week 13. The Zach Ertz trade offers the oft-injured tight end the chance to rewrite the narrative concerning his durability.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
