The inevitable doesn't have to be.
As the Eagles finished up OTAs and headed away until training camp, Zach Ertz remained missing. The veteran tight end hasn’t participated in the Eagles offseason program and seems poised to stay away from the team until he gets what he wants: A new address for the 2021 season.
And while it would be nice to see a Super Bowl hero and most prolific tight end in franchise history leave town on a less contentious note, the Eagles shouldn’t give in and just give Ertz away in a trade or outright release. Other than some cap savings (which likely won’t be needed for a big-ticket trade acquisition this summer), I don’t see the upside to moving from Ertz just because he’s decided it’s time to do so.
Ertz didn’t show up to OTAs. That’s his right. The offseason program isn’t mandatory. So far, Ertz has done nothing wrong and the Eagles can’t fine him. It’s just business. Ertz’s next (and most significant) move could be to hold out of training camp. I’d call his bluff on that one. Ertz might be willing to give back $40,000 per day starting in late July, but that kind of tactic likely wouldn’t last long. Ertz needs to play this fall (for the Eagles or anyone else) to re-establish his value and land one more significant contract. The only way he does that is by showing up, even if he’s mentally checked out of Philadelphia.
It’s easy to feel for Ertz. He feels wronged here. He missed his chance at a huge contract, got hurt, and now sees the writing on the wall with his understudy taking the lead role at the position. The last time we heard from him was at the end of last season when a teary-eyed press conference stirred up emotions about eight years here. Surely, Ertz thought the Eagles would trade or release him as soon as the offseason began. But without a requisite offer (I wouldn’t have traded Ertz for less than a fourth-round pick), what’s the upside for the Eagles?
We’re talking about a player under contract, with an excellent track record, a history of being a team player (which would give me confidence that Ertz would not be a locker room problem for a new coaching staff if his stalemate and “holdout” didn’t work), and with the ability to be the best No. 2 tight end in the NFL. Ertz signed a long-term contract through the 2021 season. That included turning down an extension offer before the 2020 season. He's already signed over this football season to the Eagles. Unless the team gets something of value in return, it's illogical to just say goodbye.
When the season starts, Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts’ progression and cohesion will be the thing we focus on every single week. It will dictate the future of the franchise. Having Ertz on the field as a security blanket for Hurts can only be a good thing. Having him behind Dallas Goedert (a talented, but oft-injured tight end) makes the team better. This isn’t a salary cap thing. The Eagles are already cap compliant. If money needs to be moved around for another veteran like, say, Steven Nelson, the Eagles could do it and likely without Howie Roseman breaking a sweat.
As for the human element to all of this, well, let me spin this a different way than the “the Eagles need to do right by Ertz!” rhetoric you’ve likely heard or spun yourself in recent weeks: Sure, the Eagles could move on from a special player in franchise history just because he asks, even though he’s under contract and still valuable. But there’s also the human element issue the Eagles should try to avoid making a habit of: Giving into the demands of every veteran who just decides not to honor their contract. Carson Wentz reportedly wanted out and away from the Eagles franchise. The Eagles gave in, even though it meant a historical cap hit. Now it’s seemingly Ertz’s turn. Who’s next? Perhaps Fletcher Cox, wanting to move on from Philadelphia after 2021 to take one more shot with a team on the doorstep of the Super Bowl? There has to be a line, and this is the Eagles chance to show the roster that every “I want out!” request won’t be rewarded.
Ertz’s best days are past him. We can all recognize that. There’s something to be said for only wanting players that want to be here, especially with a new staff. I’d be fine trading Ertz today for a fourth-round pick. But without a good offer, the Eagles should hold onto Ertz, call his bluff, pay him every dime of his $8.5M base salary (including the highest cap hit among tight ends in the NFL) and let Sirianni use him in an offense that likely will feature sets with multiple tight ends.
I’ve been an Ertz fan from very early in his career, and started talking about his Hall of Fame credentials long ago and before his most prolific years. Perhaps he’ll get back on that track in the second act of his career. I’ll root for him elsewhere if the Eagles can get something of value back for him this summer. If not, there’s no good reason Ertz can’t start that act here, help Hurts develop, and show the city of Philadelphia how much he loves playing here for one more season.