Zach Ertz wants to stay with Cardinals after midseason trade?

Following months of speculation about his future, three-time Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz began the 2021 NFL season with the Philadelphia Eagles but was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in the middle of October. On a personal level, that deal worked out well for Ertz in that he recorded 56 receptions for 574 yards and three touchdowns with his new employer during what could be considered auditions for other clubs considering the 31-year-old is set to hit free agency when the new league year opens in March. 

Ertz hoped to pursue a second career Super Bowl ring as part of a Cardinals side that began the campaign with seven straight wins, but Arizona ultimately fell to 11-6 overall and then suffered a crushing 34-11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Monday's prime-time wild-card game. He spoke with media members on Tuesday and suggested he'd like to run it back with the Cardinals if they'll have him. 

"I still feel like we have unfinished business as a team. I would love to be a part of it," Ertz explained about his future, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "But that just might be out of my control." 

In total, Ertz ended the 2021 regular season with 74 catches for 763 yards and five scores. Logic suggests other contenders will call about his services in March, and his comments don't necessarily guarantee he'd offer the Cardinals any massive "hometown" discount to begin the 2022 campaign with Arizona.