The Los Angeles Rams have made it clear once again that they will be aggressive when it comes to building a Super Bowl-worthy roster leading up to the 2021 NFL season.
They pulled the trigger on a blockbuster deal for quarterback Matthew Stafford as part of their efforts to revamp the offense. It is safe to say that they will continue to do their due diligence on those that can help make it come to fruition.
Among the notable players on the market is Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz. With the Eagles in the midst of a rebuild, Ertz is not expected to be around for the 2021 NFL season.
According to Conor Myles of the Eagle Maven, both teams in Los Angeles have inquired about Philadelphia’s asking price for Ertz:
A contact close to the former Pro Bowler has indicated to Eagle Maven that the Los Angeles Chargers are interested in acquiring Ertz. The Los Angeles Rams also called Philadelphia inquiring about the tight end, but the Chargers’ interest is believed to be heavier than the Rams, per a source.
The source also told Eagle Maven that Ertz would like a resolution to his future sooner rather than later, adding that if a deal does not come to fruition in the next couple of weeks, the Eagles tight end is expected to ask for his release in March.
The Rams’ interest in Ertz hardly comes as any surprise considering head coach Sean McVay’s affinity for two-tight end sets in his offense. This was evidenced by the roles Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett took on in the passing game in recent years.
Everett is currently a free agent though, so Ertz would slot in as a quality replacement even if he is coming off a disappointing 2020 campaign that saw him register just 36 catches and a career-low 335 yards and one touchdown. Despite the down year, his track record in the three-year span before that indicates that there is plenty of potential for a comeback season.
Ertz has an $8.2 million base salary for next season in what will be the final year of his current deal. This will likely be taken into consideration for teams when it comes to striking a potential deal with the Eagles.
The Chargers’ interest is certainly intriguing since they are in the midst of deciding on the long-term future of tight end Hunter Henry. With Henry likey set to receive a lucrative payday this offseason, they could be looking to get more bang for their buck from Ertz.
