Looks like the Philadelphia Eagles and Zach Ertz will not come to a new deal in the near future. As of Thursday, negotiations fell apart between the two sides after the Eagles offered Ertz less guaranteed money than their previous offer last November, according to Ian Rapaport.
The offer reportedly had less money over the next four seasons annually than the deal that Austin Hooper signed with the Cleveland Browns earlier this offseason.
Hooper was signed to a 4 year, $42 million deal with $23 million guaranteed in March. That made him the highest paid tight end at the time. Since then, George Kittle inked a 5 year, $75 million deal with the 49ers and Travis Kelce signed a 4 year deal for $57 million total.
Related
It's worth noting that Hooper and Ertz have the same agent, Steve Caric, and the production heavily favors Ertz. Here is a look at what both tight ends have done over the last two season:
Ertz: 204 catches on 291 targets, 2,079 yards, 14 touchdowns
Hooper: 146 catches on 185 targets, 1,447 yards, 10 touchdowns
A good starting point for what Ertz should look for in a new deal with the Eagles is what they gave to receiver Alshon Jeffery in 2017, a four-year, $52 million deal. Ertz should demand more than the $13 million average salary that Jeffery got, as Ertz has clearly outplayed Jeffery since the two became teammates in 2017. Ertz has more catches, yards, touchdowns and has played in more games. He also has 113 more targets, making it clear that he is the team’s No. 1 receiver, not Jeffery. Considering the Eagles extended Jeffery’s deal, guaranteeing his 2020 salary, Ertz is (correctly) going to want more than Jeffery. That means any deal for Ertz is likely going to start with an average salary of $13 million.
As the new deal handed to Kittle shows, tight ends are now being paid like No. 1 wide receivers. Ertz has a slam-dunk, clear-cut case that he is the Eagles' No. 1 wide receiver and their most important skill position player.