The Philadelphia Eagles already made one star happy this offseason by trading him away, but another fan favorite might be waiting a while for a change of scenery. As Zach Ertz pushes for an opportunity to play elsewhere, it seems the Eagles might be standing in the way of that happening.
Philadelphia started shopping its Pro Bowl tight end during the 2020 NFL season. A deal never came to fruition, but with Ertz wanting a new contract and recognizing it will only come with a new team, an offseason trade felt inevitable.
Once the spring arrived, leaks out of Philadelphia made it clear Ertz won’t return in 2021. Multiple NFL teams started calling the Eagles, hoping to add Ertz to their offense. Then, just when reports surfaced a deal was close, the chatter around a potential trade stopped.
Now, we might know why general managers have pumped the brakes on the Pro Bowl tight end.
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According to Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman wants a third-round pick for Ertz. The Los Angeles Chargers were engaged in negotiations to land a weapon that would replace Hunter Henry, but Roseman wouldn’t budge off his asking price.
The Chargers and Buffalo Bills were the two teams connected most heavily to an Ertz trade. But with the Eagles refusing to lower the asking price, both clubs moved on. Los Angeles signed Jared Cook and Buffalo landed tight end Jacob Hollister to pair with Dawson Knox.
Will the Eagles trade Zach Ertz?
Roseman sets the bar high for trades. In February, word broke that the Eagles were nearing a Carson Wentz trade. Days later, talks went silent and Philadelphia’s asking price cost them leverage. Ultimately, the Colts and Eagles were able to work out a blockbuster trade.
We’ll likely see a similar outcome with Ertz. According to Pauline, rival clubs are currently offering a conditional fifth-round pick to Philadelphia. While Ertz could hit certain incentives that would make the pick higher, meaning it’s a 2022 or 2023 selection, that hasn’t been enough for Roseman to pull the trigger.
It’s a matter of time before this gets worked out. The Eagles are headed for a rebuild and with Ertz entering a contract year, the best move for the club’s future is trading him away. Plus, the 30-year-old also desperately wants to play elsewhere next season.
Given the 2021 NFL Draft is only a few weeks away, don’t be surprised if Ertz is traded on Day 2.
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