Zach Ertz's Preseason Player Analysis

Bottom Line

At 34 (in November), Ertz is well past his prime.

There’s an opportunity waiting for him in Washington – if he can hold off Round 2 pick Ben Sinnott.

Even then… is there enough for Ertz to rise beyond the status of deep-league spot starter?

Given the improved TE landscape -- and Ertz's recent form -- we’ll say no.

What We Learned Last Year

• Ertz began last year on the Cardinals. However, he never played alongside Kyler Murray, who returned in Week 10.
  • The former Eagle saw games of 10, 10, and 8 targets. But he was highly inefficient with .95 yards per route run and 6.9 yards per catch.
• Ertz was released in November after a mid-season quad injury.
• Detroit scooped him up in January, but he never suited up for a game.

What to Expect in 2024

• Washington signed Ertz to a one-year deal in March.
• The move reunites him with his HC in Arizona (and new OC) Kliff Kingsbury.
  • Familiarity with the offense is helpful. Just note: In four years as Arizona’s HC, Kingsbury’s units targeted TEs at a clip of 15.3%.
  • For context, that would have ranked 28th in the league last year.
• Here’s Ertz on signing with Washington:
  • "Kliff has been a huge part of my success the past few years in Arizona and so when he got the job in Washington and I was a free agent, it was very easy for me to say, 'hey, this is a place that I would love to play for,'" he said. "They've essentially redone the entire building since I came into the league. New owner, new GM, a new head coach and I've never heard anyone say a bad word about Dan Quinn and so I'm extremely excited to play for him and to get back on the East Coast is going to be fun."
• Washington used a Round 2 pick on Kansas State TE Ben Sinnott, a highly athletic prospect at nearly 6’4, 250.
• The Ertz-Sinnott duo figures to platoon work to replace the 78 targets left behind by Logan Thomas.