When the Washington Commanders agreed to terms on a trade for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz last week, the top priority for free agency and the NFL draft was to surround him with enough weapons to make him successful.
The Commanders return top wide receiver, Terry McLaurin. No. 1 tight end Logan Thomas is coming off ACL surgery and his status for the beginning of the 2022 season is to be determined. Washington’s top running back, Antonio Gibson, also returns, but third-down back J.D. McKissic is a free agent.
Other players returning for the Commanders are wide receivers Curtis Samuel and Dyami Brown and second-year tight end John Bates. Washington can’t go into the offseason believing Samuel and Brown will be a legit No. 2 receiver, which means adding more pass-catchers should be priority No. 1.
Washington could take a wide receiver with the No. 11 overall pick in the NFL draft. As for free agency, don’t expect the Commanders to be shelling out big money to the top wideouts on the market.
What about a tight end? Thomas returns, but he may not be ready early in the season. Bates proved last season he could play, and Ricky Seals-Jones is a free agent.
Could Washington pursue one of Wentz’s former teammates in tight end Zach Ertz?
Washington fans are certainly familiar with Ertz. The former Eagles tight end experienced great success against the Commanders, earning three trips to the Pro Bowl from 2017-2019. The Eagles traded their longtime starter to the Arizona Cardinals last October.
The trade to the Cardinals seemingly rejuvenated Ertz. Almost an afterthought with the Eagles in 2020 — he caught a career-low 36 passes for 335 yards — Ertz caught 56 passes for 574 yards with three touchdowns for the Cardinals in 11 games.
Now 31, Ertz enters unrestricted free agency for the first time since entering the NFL in 2013. While the Cardinals would like to retain Ertz, and he is open to returning, he will be free to begin negotiating with other teams Monday.
Could one of those teams be Washington?
It’s important to note, the best three-year stretch in Ertz’s career occurred with Wentz at quarterback. The two had excellent chemistry on the field and were also good friends off the field. With concerns about Wentz’s leadership, would it make sense to add one of his closest allies to the roster?
Ertz can still play. He’s not a game-breaker, he never was but is a reliable chain-mover who catches everything. And, with Thomas sidelined, having Ertz would lessen the need to rush him back. Then, when Thomas returns, the Commanders would have three options at tight end.
Depending on his cost, Ertz would be a good addition. However, if Washington is limited in free agency, positions such as wide receiver, offensive line depth, safety and inside linebacker should be bigger priorities.
Again, it all comes down to cost.