NFL Trade News: Philadelphia Eagles may reunite with $6M Washington Commanders tight end

After winning Super Bowl LIX, everyone was rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles once again for Super Bowl 60. But with changing times and very little control over its offense, the franchise could only win the NFC East and finish 11-6.

At such times, a hybrid dual-threat player can come in handy. Someone who has the blocking power of an offensive lineman and the catching ability of a wide receiver. Yes, that’s right: a tight end.So, we can expect Philadelphia to look for a tight end with whom they may be acquainted and who may also be easy on the cap space [about $13M under the salary cap]. Sports Illustrated’s Ed Kracz has predicted Washington Commanders veteran tight end Zach Ertz for the role.

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz played nine seasons for Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts’ team picked Ertz in Round 2 of the 2013 NFL Draft as 13th overall. He played nine seasons for them. Then midway through the 2021 season, he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for cornerback Tay Gowan and a 2022 Round 5 pick. He stayed with Arizona for four seasons till November 2023. In March 2024, he signed a one-year, $3M contract with the Commanders. Then, in March 2025, he signed another one-year contract extension worth $6.25M with Washington.

Now, he’s a free agent and recently expressed his desire to play for the 2026 season despite being in ACL recovery.Ertz tore his ACL in the Week 14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Dec. 2025. NFL Insider Tom Pelissero reported that the 35-year-old tight end plans to return for his 14th NFL season and is expected to be cleared around Week 1 [which would be nearabout nine months into his recovery]. So that should be fine for the Eagles.According to Spotrac’s market value, the three-time Pro Bowler is projected to sign a one-year contract worth $2.2 million and earn an average annual salary of $2.2 million. And based on his one-year, $6.2 million contract with Washington for the 2025 season, he had an average annual salary of $6.2 million, with a $3.5 million signing bonus and $5.5 million in guaranteed money.

Zach Ertz and Philadelphia Eagles potential reunion but Dallas Goedert farewell

Kracz reports that Philadelphia needs tight ends. Ertz was one of the best in franchise history as a second-round pick in 2013, spending nine seasons with the team.When the Eagles traded him to Arizona, a glimmer of hope lingered that he would be back to his parent franchise someday. Maybe now is the right time. With 11 more catches, he’d be able to defeat Pro Football Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael with the most career catches [590] in team history.Heavy Sports’ Dylan Tracy-Lindenbaum reported that the Philadelphia-Ertz reunion sounds logical. He is not as explosive as he was at the start of his career, but he has always relied on sharp routes, good instincts, and dependable hands.Playing for Philadelphia, the Stanford alumnus delivered one of the biggest plays the franchise has ever seen with his touchdown reception in Super Bowl LII. If he wishes to continue to play, a reunion with the Eagles may be the best way, considering the current tight end Dallas Goedert, who may ask for more after a strong 2025 campaign. And signing a one-year deal with Ertz would give the front office flexibility to draft and invest in a long-term option.