Cardinals, tight end Zach Ertz agree to 3-year deal

The Arizona Cardinals agreed to a three-year contract with tight end Zach Ertz, the team announced on Sunday afternoon.

The Cardinals did not disclose terms, but NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported the deal to be worth $31.65 million with $17.5 million guaranteed.

Arizona acquired Ertz during the 2021 season from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2022 fifth-round draft pick and rookie cornerback Tay Gowan.

Ertz made an immediate impact with his new team as he caught three passes for 66 yards and a touchdown in his Cardinals debut.

He led Arizona with 56 catches over the final 11 games of the regular season, and he expressed a desire to return following the Cardinals’ playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to get to be able to have been out here for the past three months,” Ertz told reporters on Jan. 18.

“Obviously, it didn’t end where we wanted it to. But I still feel like we have unfinished business as a team. I would love to be a part of it.”

The #Cardinals are finalizing a three-year deal with three-time Pro Bowl TE Zach Ertz, per source.

Ertz has thrived since arriving in Arizona, and now stays on a deal that keeps him among the NFL’s top 10 highest-paid tight ends at age 31. 💰

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 13, 2022

Ertz provides stability to a team with a lot of free agents, especially on offense. Wide receivers Christian Kirk and A.J. Green, tight end Maxx Williams and running backs James Conner and Chase Edmonds are all set to hit the open market.

@ZERTZ_86 😳😳😳 Does this mean we are going to have to run it back together?!?!?!?

— Maxx Williams (@williams_maxx) March 13, 2022

The NFL’s legal tampering period begins on Monday, and free agents can officially sign on Wednesday.

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