3 winners (and 1 loser) from Washington Commanders 2024 OTAs
By Dean Jones
Winner No. 2
Zach Ertz - Commanders TE
After a solid if not spectacular season from Logan Thomas, the tight end became a salary-cap casualty. This was expected, but finding upgrades for the position group was important as part of Adam Peters' grand plans for progression.
The Washington Commanders got a long-term option in place by selecting Ben Sinnott at No. 53 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. For the short-term, those in power turned to someone who Kliff Kingsbury knows well.
Washington penned Zach Ertz to a one-year deal. His previous connection to Kingsbury from their time together with the Arizona Cardinals was a big tipping point behind the decision. While the move was largely well-received, many wondered if the three-time Pro Bowler had anything left in the tank.
It's only early in the process, but Ertz is alleviating these concerns.
The player looked sharp in the passing game according to those in attendance at Washington's organized team activities. Ertz was sharp out of his routes and provided quarterback Jayden Daniels with a sound security blanket in the short-to-intermediate area of the field. He's also adopted the mentorship role with Sinnott, which is another integral part of his contribution in 2024.
Fans will get a broader perspective of what Ertz is capable of when things get more intense as the summer unfolds. His previous credentials speak for themselves. However, he missed the second half of 2023 after departing the Cardinals, so it could still go either way.
For now, things are looking up. This might be Ertz's last chance to prove he's still got a few good years left in the tank. If the former second-round selection out of Stanford cannot make a lasting contribution, it won't go unnoticed by those around the NFL.
Ertz is off to a tremendous start. A lot can happen between now and when Week 1 rolls around, but there's growing confidence after a starring role throughout OTAs.