Is Commanders' Zach Ertz the NFL's most underrated tight end?
Zach Ertz will enter his 13th NFL season in 2025. A second-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft, Ertz spent his first 8.5 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles before he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2021. Ertz signed with the Washington Commanders last offseason and played in every game for the first time since 2021.
Ertz not only played in every game, but he was one of Washington's top offensive players. The veteran finished second on the team with 66 receptions for 654 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a critical part of quarterback Jayden Daniels' development.
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At the conclusion of the 2024 season, Ertz was again a free agent. He wanted to continue playing — and in Washington. The Commanders re-signed Ertz in March, giving him a pay raise despite the fact that he'll turn 35 next season.
Washington loved having Ertz around last season. Not only was he one of the NFC's best tight ends, but he was also an excellent leader for several of the Commanders' young offensive players. That begs the question: Is Ertz underrated?
Aaron Schatz of ESPN recently named the underrated NFL player at every position. He picked Ertz at tight end.
It looked like Ertz's career might be over after he played only seven games for the Cardinals in 2023 at age 33. But he had a big comeback season with the Commanders in 2024. Ertz caught 66 passes for 654 yards and seven touchdowns, emerging as one of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels' go-to receivers.
Ertz also ranked 10th among tight ends in my DYAR (defense-adjusted yards above replacement) metric. He had an 85.7% run block win rate, one of the best figures among starting tight ends, too. The Commanders re-signed Ertz to a one-year, $6.25 million contract for 2025. They didn't add any other tight ends in free agency or the draft, signaling that they're keeping him in the starting role.
The Commanders understand that Ertz may not produce the same numbers in 2025. In reality, they would be happy if second-year tight end Ben Sinnott cut into some of Ertz's snaps. Ertz had a terrific bounce-back season in 2024, but his production went largely unnoticed around the NFL, which has been the case for much of his career. Ertz is 25 receptions away from 800 in his career.
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You can bet Daniels and the Commanders are happy Ertz put off retirement for at least another year.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders' Zach Ertz named the NFL's most underrated tight end
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