The Washington Commanders, with a $91.5 million cap space leading into the 2024 NFL season, have the luxury of spending some of it after signing tight end Zach Ertz to a one-year deal.
Ertz last played for the Arizona Cardinals, compiling 187 yards and a touchdown in seven games. After three seasons with the squad, the Cardinals waived him, allowing the Detroit Lions to include him on their practice squad.
Commanders signing TE Zach Ertz to one-year deal worth up to $5M. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/hCC1s0Xtdw
— NFL (@NFL) March 6, 2024
However, he did not play a game for the Lions, and his contract expired when the Lions lost to the San Francisco 49ers in last season’s NFC Championship Game.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected the former Stanford standout in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He became a three-time Pro Bowler with the Eagles and helped the franchise win Super Bowl 52 over the New England Patriots.
Ertz’s best season came in 2018 when he had 116 receptions (an NFL record for tight ends) for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns. A year later, he had 88 catches for 916 yards and six touchdowns.
Unfortunately, his performance declined starting in 2020, when he suffered a high-ankle sprain that sidelined him for four to six weeks. He finished that year with 335 yards and a touchdown.
In October 2021, the Eagles traded Ertz to the Cardinals for a 2022 fifth-round pick and defensive back Tay Gowan. Ertz had 574 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games with the Cardinals.
Spotrac estimates Zach Ertz’s career earnings at $71 million in 11 NFL seasons. After the team announced Logan Thomas' release, Ertz will join John Bates, Cole Turner, and Amani Rodgers on the Commanders’ tight end depth chart.
-Lance Fernandez