It didn't take much for the Washington Commanders to get tight end Zach Ertz's attention ahead of free agency.
With head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury in tow and a chance to return to the same division where he began his career, signing with the Commanders and playing for his former head coach with the Arizona Cardinals made too much sense. Ertz made it official on Wednesday when he signed a one-year deal with Washington that's worth up to $5 million.
"Kliff has been a huge part of my success the past few years in Arizona," Ertz said on The Pat McAfee Show. "When he got the job in Washington and I was a free agent, it was very easy for me to say 'Hey this is a place I would love to play for.' They've essentially redone the entire building since when I first came into the league. New owner, new GM now, new head coach and I've never heard anyone say a bad word about Dan Quinn, so I'm extremely excited to play for him and get back on the east coast."
Ertz spent the first eight-plus seasons of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, accumulating 579 catches for 6,267 yards and 38 touchdowns. He had a stretch of five straight seasons with at least 74 catches and 800 receiving yards from 2015-2019. The three-time Pro Bowler and former Super Bowl winner struggled mightily in 2020 with just 36 catches for 335 yards and one touchdown in 11 games, and in the middle of the following season, he was traded to the Cardinals.
The veteran tight end enjoyed a resurgence in his first year with Kinsgbury, as he had 56 catches for 574 yards and three touchdowns. Ertz was on his way toward another solid season in 2022 with 47 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games, but he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 10, ending his season early.
Last season, Ertz only played in seven games, catches 27 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown before getting cut by the Cardinals. Ertz signed with the Detroit Lions' practice squad at the end of the regular season, but he was never elevated during the playoffs.
Expecting Ertz to become the player he was with the Eagles would be unrealistic, but that doesn't mean he can't be a valuable player for the Commanders. A reliable tight end is one of the more valuable weapons a quarterback can have, especially Washington starts a rookie at the position. Ertz could also be a mentor to a rookie tight end if Washington chooses to draft one.
Ertz wanted to play for the Commanders is already a sign the culture is starting to change. If other free agents view Washington similarly, it could be a sign that the franchise could be a destination under the new regime.
Ertz playing to the level his did with the Cardinals would give the Commanders a reliable player at tight end for the first time in a while. If he can just return to that form and continue the success he's had when he previously played for Kingsbury and be the start of free agents wanting with Washington, that would be a win for the Commanders.
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