Veteran NFL tight end Zach Ertz is the latest player to get waived so that he might be able to play for a contender.
The former Arizona Cardinals tight end got released from that team on Thursday, as former Cardinals player J.J. Watt broke the news on Twitter.
Ertz is an interesting name to get cut loose this time of year, as he’s won a Super Bowl before with the Philadelphia Eagles and could still be a reliable part of any team’s passing attack.
The tight end has 187 yards and a touchdown this season, but much of that has been with up-and-down reserve quarterback play in Arizona.
Trying new things in retirement, so let’s steal @AdamSchefter job for a day…
TE Zach Ertz has requested & been granted his release from the Arizona Cardinals.
The 3-Time Pro Bowler plans to sign with a contender and make a run at his 2nd Super Bowl ring.
(This is easy Adam) pic.twitter.com/pK4qCcCfay
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) November 30, 2023
Ertz could land with any number of contending teams, including Philadelphia where his career started a decade ago.
Let’s check out who those contending teams could be and why they all might be inclined to add a solid veteran like Ertz at this point in the season.
Philadelphia Eagles
If Ertz wants to return to where his career began, he could sign a 1-year deal with the Eagles and help them push for a second Super Bowl.
He won his first ring with Philadelphia after the 2017 season, and this Eagles team looks even more formidable than that one did.
This is by far the most sensible landing spot, especially since Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert has been out recently with injury.
Baltimore Ravens
If a reunion with the Eagles isn’t in the cards, Ertz could very easily fill in for injured tight end Mark Andrews with the Ravens.
Andrews will likely be out for the rest of the season with a TK injury, which puts second-year tight end Isaiah Likely in the starting spot on the depth chart. The Ravens are Super Bowl contenders, and they could use more depth behind a young player like Likely.
Ertz could be a really valuable piece for a Baltimore team that loves to utilize tight ends in its passing attack, as quarterback Lamar Jackson would probably love to have a solid veteran like Ertz joining the roster this time of year.
Kansas City Chiefs
There has been much ado about Patrick Mahomes needing more wide receiver help to buoy the Kansas City passing attack. How about another veteran tight end to pair with Travis Kelce?
The 2013 NFL Draft tight end All-Stars could finally play together if Ertz signed with Kansas City, which would give Mahomes two starting-caliber tight ends to unleash on opposing defenses.
Ertz wouldn’t necessarily help the Chiefs’ deep passing attack, but he could be another good intermediate and red zone option for a team that has flourished with Kelce working in the same role. Plus, Ertz would be stellar insurance if the worst-case scenario happened with Kelce getting hurt.
Detroit Lions
The Lions have a sensational rookie tight end in Sam LaPorta, so they might not be the most likely option on this list. However, you just can’t have too many reliable pass catchers on your roster when it’s playoff time.
Ertz could help quarterback Jared Goff in the red zone, and he could take a little bit of the pressure off of LaPorta if the latter starts to hit a rookie wall as the Lions inch closer to a possible postseason run.
The depth behind LaPorta for Detroit isn’t as sharp as you’d hope, which could make the Lions an intriguing sleeper team for Ertz.
San Francisco 49ers
One of Ertz’s best games this season came against the 49ers when he hauled in 53 yards on six targets. Could that team be intrigued by getting him on its side of the NFC West fence?
San Francisco really hasn’t gotten much production at all this season from the tight ends behind George Kittle, making them a Kittle injury away from a huge gap on the offensive depth chart.
Ertz is a smart player who could learn the Kyle Shanahan well enough to factor into the game plan in a rotational role, and this San Francisco team cannot afford any injuries as its starting to find its groove again after injuries helped slow it down earlier in the fall.
You might not think San Francisco makes much sense, but this could one of those insurance signings that pays off in a huge way when you least expect it.
