The Indianapolis Colts have already made one bet on a former Eagle whose reputation has been fractured this offseason.
Might we interest them in another?
The buzz surrounding a potential Carson Wentz–Zach Ertz reunion in Indy has increased in recent days, fueled mostly by…well, speculation from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, aggregated as a reliable source though it may not be worth the digital paper it’s printed on.
Fowler’s long been the source of (informed?) Ertz speculation, initially packaging him alongside Wentz in the initial deal that brought the QB to the AFC South (nope), then pitching trades after that failed to materialize.
It’s possible that the Minnesota Vikings, of all teams, changed the equation last week when they released Kyle Rudolph, adding another comparable tight end option to Ertz to the market.
Solid route-running, great hands, unspectacular YAC…would the Colts really surrender assets of any kind just to further increase Wentz’s comfort level? Especially after the pairing didn’t exactly lead to wonderful things in Philadelphia?
Some thoughts on how the release of Kyle Rudolph impacts the #Eagles' trade market for Zach Ertz:https://t.co/PB9B2eZ7gC
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) March 3, 2021
Will the Colts bother trading for Zach Ertz?
According to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler’s recent rumblings, the release of Rudolph hasn’t necessarily forced the Eagles to hit the gas pedal and abandon all hope of receiving assets in trade for Ertz.
Per Fowler this week:
"“Let’s start with Zac (sp) Ertz … contract negotiations did not go well earlier in the season, so he has been bracing for a potential trade or release any time now,” Fowler said on Sunday’s SportsCenter. “He’s got $8.25 million due to him. The Eagles are over 40 million in a cap deficit. They need to shed some salary. It’s largely expected that those parties will move on, but they want to try to get some value for him. A lot of teams need a tight end. Perhaps the Colts will reunite him with Carson Wentz.”"
The Ertz trade buzz heated up further late Sunday night, when insider Michael Silver insinuated multiple teams were calling Philadelphia, and a deal could materialize in the coming days.
Our bottom line? Ertz, Jack Doyle (who’s stuck here) and a third option (like Mo Alie-Cox) would ostensibly make sense in Indianapolis, but only if Ertz becomes available for money alone.
It might be worth betting on a low-ceiling chip like the dependably un-flashy Ertz if and only if he can be bought for a song.
The second the Colts start having to cough up more draft picks, the phone should be hung up in Chris Ballard’s office — especially when more dynamic options like ex-Ram Gerald Everett are available on the tight end market, too.
Big Fan of Everett. Indy needs to bolster the TE position. Reich’s offense works best with flex TE utilization. A lot of possible moves there would have me thrilled. Wentz also loves and typically has had a ton of success in getting his TE’s involved. https://t.co/P0ujbSGss3
— Steichen SZN (@SpeedBlue23) March 3, 2021
The reunion factor will get most of the publicity until the Eagles settle their situation, but there’s little-to-no reason to splurge for Ertz, especially when he might be cut loose in a matter of weeks.
If the Rudolph decision hasn’t changed either party’s calculus here, neither should Wentz’s emotions. Keep waiting.
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