The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly discussed a trade with the Arizona Cardinals involving tight end Zach Ertz.
With the NFL trade deadline less than two weeks away, rumors have exploded in recent days.
The Dallas Cowboys’ plan at the deadline is simple: add whatever it takes to finally make the playoffs. As the obvious buyers, not to mention arguably the most popular team in the league, the Cowboys have been the subject of several trade rumors recently.
These rumors go far and wide, but one of them seems particularly interesting. The Cowboys have reached out to the Arizona Cardinals about a trade involving tight end Zach Ertz, according to an NFL Analysis Network source.
“The Cowboys would like to do something before the trade deadline,” the source said. “Zach Ertz is a name they’ve talked about. There are discussions between Dallas and Arizona.
To be honest, we’re a little skeptical of a 33-year-old player with this “dropout” frame that cost $12 million in APY. But… As for why the Cowboys would be interested in Ertz, it all boils down to one of their biggest struggles this season: the red zone offense. Dallas has made 23 trips to the red zone this season, but only nine of them have reached the end zone. At 6-5 and 250 pounds, Ertz could be the matchup problem the Cowboys desperately need.
After letting Dalton Schultz go this offseason, the Cowboys have had mixed results with the young group. Jake Ferguson was solid with 21 receptions for 190 yards and a touchdown, but his tight ends couldn’t carve out a role in the offense. Adding a proven veteran like Ertz to a three-time Pro Bowl selection would certainly help solve that problem.
If the Cowboys are really interested in Ertz, there’s a good chance he’ll be available. The Cardinals are looking for a seller as a young team at 1-5 (with one win against the Cowboys) and any additional draft compensation would be tempting. Ertz also played just 46 percent of Arizona’s snaps in Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams while second-year tight end Trey McBride took on a bigger role in the offense.
Ertz arrived in Arizona in an offseason trade two years ago, but Cowboys fans probably know him better from his time with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013-21. In a career spanning more than a decade, Ertz has 7,415 yards and 46 touchdowns.
