Cowboys have reached out to the Cardinals about Zach Ertz

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We are less than two weeks away from the NFL trade deadline, and rumours are swirling about who the Dallas Cowboys may want to add to their roster.
Teams have until the end of the month to make a deal before the trade window closes, and you can expect things to heat up between now and then.

Over in Cowboys country, one name we’ve heard a lot these days is Zach Ertz, a veteran tight end who currently plays for the Arizona Cardinals.

NFL ANALYSIS NETWORK reports that Dallas has contacted the Cardinals, expressing interest in Ertz, who won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2017 season.

“The Cowboys would love to get something done before the trade deadline,” the source said. “Zach Ertz is a name they have talked about. Conversations are ongoing between Dallas and Arizona.”

Zach Ertz would improve Dallas

If a deal for Ertz materialized, the veteran tight end could address a significant issue for this team in the red zone.

So far in 2023, the Cowboys have made 23 trips to the red zone, scoring on only nine occasions, so that needs to improve going forward.

In the off-season, Dallas let Dalton Schultz sign with the Houston Texans, leaving a hole at the tight end position.

Last season, Schultz was second on the team in receiving yards (577), averaging 10.1 yards per catch while scoring five touchdowns.

Ertz, a three-time Pro Bowl tight end, would add experience, a championship pedigree and dependability when he’s healthy.

When being the operative word as he featured in 11 and 10 games, respectively, for the Cardinals in 2021 and 2022 because of injuries.

So far this year, Ertz has made 24 receptions on 39 targets, while he has found the end zone at least once in each of his NFL campaigns.

The Cowboys’ current top tight end is Jake Ferguson, who’s had a solid season with 21 receptions for 190 yards and a score.

In March 2022, Ertz signed a three-year $31.65 million deal with Arizona, so if the Cowboys want him, they’ll have to pay some of that salary in all likelihood.

That being said, it seems as though Arizona are looking to get younger and rebuild under Jonathan Gannon, so if the price is right, they might be willing to part ways with the 32-year-old.

In the Cardinals’ Week Six loss to the Los Angeles Rams (26-9), Ertz played just 46% of the teams’ offensive snaps, with Trey McBride taking a more prominent role with the offense.

As a member of the Eagles in 2018, Ertz set an NFL single-season record for most receptions by a tight end (116).

During his Eagles tenure, he averaged over 10 yards per catch each year except for 2020 (9.3), though his production has declined a little in Arizona, going from an 8.6-yard average per catch in 2022 to seven at the moment.

Throughout his NFL career, Ertz has massed up 7,415 receiving yards while finding the end zone 46 times.