Lane Johnson will understand if Zach Ertz doesn't return to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2021 season, but the former All-Pro wouldn't be disappointed if the team's tight end is back - far from it, really.
Johnson recently appeared with Jody McDonald and John McMullen on Birds365 and discussed the future of the greatest tight end in team history.
"I've talked with Zach multiple times throughout the offseason ... he felt like he was heading somewhere else, but in this business you really don't know what's going to happen," Johnson said, via Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports."If he's back, you won't see anyone happier than me as far as wanting a teammate back and a great friend."
In early March, Michael Silver of NFL Media reported that "multiple teams" had reached out to the Eagles in regards to Ertz, and that a trade could come together "in the coming days." That hasn't happened, which suggests that Howie Roseman and company haven't been pleased with any of the offers that they've received for the 30-year-old pass catcher.
While it's still probably most likely that the Eagles trade or release Ertz before or during the NFL Draft, they could consider holding onto him for another season, something that didn't seem to be possible at the outset of the offseason. Ertz will carry a $12.72 million cap hit in the final season of his deal, and the Eagles currently have $4.8 million in cap space with the tight end's salary budgeted in.
Had the Eagles remained at pick No. 6, they would have potentially had the chance to select Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, making moving Ertz almost a necessity. By pick No. 12, though, Pitts will certainly be off the board. Former second-round pick Dallas Goedert is entering a contract year himself, though it's entirely possible that him and Ertz could continue to co-exist.
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