Carson Wentz-Zach Ertz reunion no longer an option for Commanders

The Washington Commanders no longer have a hole at quarterback after they acquired Carson Wentz from the Indianapolis Colts.

Though Wentz’s contract terms for 2022 are less-than-ideal, Washington came out winners in terms of trade compensation. At the end of the day, a third-rounder and a conditional third-rounder that will most likely become a second is good value for someone who threw 27 touchdowns to 7 interceptions a season ago.

The reported QBs the Commanders passed on to acquire Wentz suggests they think highly of his talent. In turn, it would only make sense if Ron Rivera and the front office used their available resources to build around Wentz.

While the roster is severely limited at wide receiver, reporters and fans alike have been advocating for Washington to make a run at Zach Ertz, Wentz’s undoubted favorite pass-catcher during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.

A dream scenario? Sign Ertz and draft a wide receiver in the first round.

During Sunday night’s free agency appetizer, though, that dream fell by the wayside when Ertz and the Cardinals agreed to a three-year extension.

The Commanders will no longer be able to pair Carson Wentz with former tight end Zach Ertz.

What a bummer.

Ertiz made too much sense as a target for the Commanders. In fact, since 2016 Wentz has the second-highest pass attempt percentage to tight ends at 31.6, according to Tru Media and transcribed by The Athletic’s Ben Standig.

Ertz was on the receiving end of most of those targets and Wentz’s best memories with Philadelphia came with Ertz as his tight end. In fact, from 2016 (the year Wentz was drafted) to 2019 (his last respectable year before his nightmare 2020) Wentz and Ertz owned one of the best QB-TE duos in the game.

Here are Ertz’s numbers during that span.

• 2016: 78 catches for 816 yards (106 targets) and 4 TDs
• 2017: 74 catches for 824 yards (110 targets) and 8 TDs
• 2018: 116 catches for 1,163 yards (156targets) and 8 TDs
• 2019: 88 catches for 916 yards (135 targets) and 6 TDS

Worth noting, too, that Ertz missed a career-high six games during Wentz’s train wreck campaign in 2020. That isn’t to imply Wentz can’t survive without Ertz, but there’s no denying he’s played his best football with Ertz lined up at tight end.

As for the contract details, Commanders fans can’t even take solace in the Cardinals overpaying to keep Ertz in the desert. Per insider Ian Rapoport, Ertz will sign a three-year deal worth $31.65 million, including $17.5 million guaranteed.

Ertz’s $10.55 million yearly salary and $17.5 million guarantee might seem like an overpay, but it aligns perfectly with the current market. The franchise tag value for the tight end position is $10.931 million, so technically below value.

All told, it’s not shocking Ertz re-signed with Arizona.

The Cardinals acquired him via trade from the Eagles back in October and he formed an immediate rapport with Kyler Murray, notching 56 catches for 574 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. For context, Ertz posted a measly 18-189-2 line in six games with the Eagles leading up to the trade.

It’s a tough blow for Washington, which, while short on cap, likely would’ve made an aggressive push to sign Ertz had he reached free agency.

Oh well.