Zach Ertz silences doubters as Commanders' trusted weapon earns high praise

All the hype this offseason centered on quarterback Jayden Daniels and the impressive additions made by the Washington Commanders. But one analyst believes last season's renaissance man could play a significant role in whatever success comes their way next time around.

The Commanders got much more than they bargained for with Zach Ertz last season. They gave him a shot to galvanize his career on a one-year deal, which intriguingly reunited the tight end with Kliff Kingsbury. It was a low-risk gamble that paid off handsomely.

Fans approached the move with cautious optimism. Some analysts thought Father Time had already caught up to the former second-round pick. It didn't take long to realize that Ertz had a lot of good football left in the tank.

Analyst expects another big year for Commanders TE Zach Ertz in 2025

The three-time Pro Bowler emerged as one of Daniels' most dependable targets. Ertz's consistent hands, assured body control, and ability to come through in the biggest moments came to the fore throughout a campaign to remember. He was a willing mentor to others and an exceptional leader in the locker room to further raise his influence.

Washington rewarded Ertz accordingly with a new one-year deal. Hopes are high that the same performance levels can be maintained, which Jonathon Macri from Pro Football Focus believes is possible after naming him as Washington's most underrated player entering 2025.

[Zach] Ertz enjoyed some stellar seasons with the Eagles and was in no way underrated at that time, but as a 34-year-old tight end nearing the end of his career, it appeared his best seasons were behind him. However, Ertz delivered more than 80 receptions in 2024 for the first time since 2019, which led to his best PFF receiving grade (72.5) and yardage total (809) in that same stretch. He ranked in the top 10 in targets for his position in the regular season, an impressive feat at this stage of his career.Jonathon Macri

There isn't much Ertz hasn't accomplished throughout his career. He's eager for more, with talk of retirement never entering his mind after gaining a new lease of life in Washington.

John Bates will handle blocking responsibilities, and it would be a huge disappointment if 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott wasn't more involved. Even so, the Stanford graduate will shoulder the load.

His previously developed chemistry with Daniels and supreme knowledge of Kingsbury's offensive concepts from their time together with the Arizona Cardinals leave reasons for hope. If Ertz can reach anything like his production last season, the Commanders will be in a good spot.

More Commanders news and analysis