Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz ranked shockingly low on PFF list despite strong 2024 season

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz might be coming on the back end of his storied NFL career, but his recent play indicates he has plenty left in the tank. Yet, Pro Football Focus disagrees.

In its recent tight end rankings, Zach Ertz was assigned to a confounding No. 30, behind several rookies who have not yet taken an NFL snap. The choice has drawn significant criticism, particularly with Zach Ertz's comeback 2024 season, which accounted for 809 yards and eight touchdowns on 84 receptions.

Zach Ertz ends up No. 30 in Pro Football Focus rankings following stellar season

Zach Ertz, the Washington Commanders' acquisition in a midseason trade in 2024, was a steady go-to in the regular season and the playoffs.

His 2024 statistics are eloquent: he was 11th in receiving yardage, sixth in receptions, eighth in targets, and tied for fourth in touchdowns as an NFL tight end. Yet Pro Football Focus ranked him towards the bottom of its 32-man tight end list. The 34-year-old veteran played a crucial role in the Washington Commanders' playoff drive and was one of quarterback Jayden Daniels' go-to guys. However, his positioning behind rookies such as Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren has seen fans and analysts baffled.

Bafflingly, rookies such as Colston Loveland (23rd-ranked) and Tyler Warren (24th-ranked) were placed well ahead of Ertz, despite neither having played a single down in the league. The ranking in this case appears to set aside on-field production for speculative ability. “While Ertz isn’t the same player we saw from 2013 to 2019, he enjoyed a resurgence while catching passes from Jayden Daniels in 2024,” Pro Football Focus writes.

“He hauled in 84 passes for 809 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and his 72.5 PFF receiving grade was his best mark since 2019, showing he still has good play left in the tank.”Ertz also played a huge role during the postseason, catching 18 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown during Washington's postseason run, demonstrating his clutch gene. Also read: Jayden Daniels backs Terry McLaurin as contract talks keep him away from Washington Commanders OTAs

Last season or not, Zach Ertz is an elite player

Regardless of whether 2025 is Zach Ertz's last year in the NFL, he proved that he can still play at a high level. His No. 30 ranking does not mean he isn't a worthy player, and if Ertz required more motivation this season, he just received it.