Zach Ertz not voted a top-10 TE but playing ‘refreshed’ with Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals acquired tight end Zach Ertz last season in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles after Maxx Williams went down with a season-ending knee injury. Ertz had been one of the league’s better tight ends but had his production decline and had reached his 30s.
After a productive 11 games with the Cardinals and re-signing to a three-year deal worth more than $31 million, he is still one of the league’s better players.
In ESPN’s rankings of the top 10 tight ends in the NFL, based on voting from players, coaches and executives, Ertz didn’t make the list but did get honorable mention.
Ertz went to the desert to spark his career after a frustrating end to his time in Philly, and he produced 574 yards and three TDs on 56 catches over 11 games with the Cardinals, who acquired him via trade. Ertz turns 32 in November. “He looked refreshed in Arizona. Showed what he can do with capable quarterback play,” an NFC personnel evaluator said. “I thought he had lost a step, but he kept getting open.”
He tied the Cardinals’ franchise single-season record for receptions by a tight end with 56 in only 11 games. If he plays a full season, he is a lock to have perhaps the greatest season for a tight end in franchise history.
He has great chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray and the Cardinals have a number of pass-catching weapons. He should find himself open a lot in 2022.
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