Larry Henry Jr
Zach Ertz is one of the top three tight ends in the NFL, but currently, the veteran playmaker is frustrated with his contract situation.
Ertz stated he wants to remain in Philadelphia for the rest of his career but doesn’t “know for sure whether the feeling is mutual.” Both Travis Kelce and George Kittle received new contracts and Ertz has been looking for the same, however, a pair of talks between Ertz’s representatives and the Eagles have yet to lead to a new contract.
Kittle signed a five-year, $75 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers while Kelce agreed to a four-year, $57 million extension with the Kansas City Chiefs. Ertz has two years remaining on his current deal, which currently pays him $8.5 million on average. Should the Eagles lose Ertz down the road, it would be a massive loss both on and off the field.
“I don’t want to get into the exact details, but I don’t think it should be that hard to get a deal done now,” Ertz said. “At the same time, now that the season is starting, I can’t really focus on that. During training camp, it kind of got the best of me a day or two, and I really just had to talk to a couple people and reset my mind and lean into my faith that I really can’t control the situation and I’m going to trust in the Lord on this thing whether it’s going to Philly — hopefully, I want to be here — or wherever it is.”
“I’m just going to do whatever I can to help the team, and I could not be more excited going into this year. I’ve never felt better going into a football season. “I want to be here. We have roots here now. This is home. I will never think about playing in another jersey until that time were to come.”
The 29-year-old Ertz already has more catches through the first seven seasons of his career (525) than any other tight end in NFL history. He is also the only tight end in the league who has led his team in both catches and receiving yards in each of the past four seasons. Ertz caught the winning touchdown in Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots and needs 66 receptions to pass Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael for the most in franchise history. The former Stanford University product has been a fan favorite in Philadelphia, but the presence of fellow tight end Dallas Goedert is also adding another wrinkle in Ertz’s possible new deal. For now, Ertz will have to focus on the 2020 NFL season, which kicks off for the Eagles on Sunday at Washington.
You can follow Larry Henry on Twitter (@lhenry019) and e-mail him at [email protected].
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