Tight end acquisition would benefit the Arizona Cardinals

A trade proposal mapped out by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell involves bringing Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz to the Arizona Cardinals

For what seems like forever, the offensive unit of the Arizona Cardinals has had a pronounced blind spot. Year after year, the squad has failed to make the tight end a vital part of the scoring attack. The last several playcallers that the Cards have employed have been unable to incorporate the position into the squad’s offensive gameplans on a consistent basis.

That can change, however, if a trade proposal that was laid out this past week by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell comes to fruition. The cable television network’s staff writer mapped out a scenario that would bring tight end Zach Ertz to the Arizona desert. Would Cardinals general manager Steve Keim have any interest in making the Philadelphia Eagles star a part of Big Red’s roster?

Ertz has a skill-set that is tailor-made for Cards head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s “Air Raid” offense. The club believed that Dan Arnold, a late-season pickup from 2019, would prosper in the system. But through the first five games, the 6’5, 220 pounder has hauled in just nine passes for 97 yards, and has yet to reach the end zone.

There’s been some talk around the Philadelphia area that Ertz may want out of the “City of Brotherly Love”. The 29-year old has asked the Eagles for an extension that is in the ballpark of the contracts that were signed by Travis Kelce and George Kittle this past August. Kelce’s deal with the Kansas City Chiefs will pay him $57 million over four years, while Kittle will collect $75 million over the next five campaigns from the San Francisco 49ers.

Up until this point, Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman has refused to meet Ertz’s demands. In five contests thus far in 2020, the former Stanford University product has registered just 20 receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown. Through five matchups last year, Ertz had totaled 29 catches for 312 receiving yards and a score.

The Arizona player that would be included in the trade for Ertz (according to Barnwell) is linebacker Haason Reddick. Keim would also fork over a third-round selection in the agreement, and would get a sixth-rounder back from the Eagles in return.

In 111 career appearances (76 starts), Ertz has tallied 545 receptions, 5,888 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns for Philadelphia. The 6’5, 250 pounder was voted to the Pro Bowl following the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. Those credentials are far better than anything the Cards have seen at the spot in quite some time.

Because of COVID-19, this season’s trade deadline has been moved back to November 3rd. That gives Keim over two weeks to work out a proposal for the talented Ertz. Acquiring the disgruntled pass-catcher could help put an end to the tight end drought that’s been plaguing the Cardinals for way too long.