The Philadelphia Eagles traded TE Zach Ertz to the Arizona Cardinals for CB Tay Gowen and a 2022 5th Round pick. The former 2nd round pick from Stanford is leaving Philadelphia with 574 receptions, 6,231 receiving yards, and 37 touchdowns. In his time in the midnight green, Ertz was named to 3 Pro Bowls. He also set the record for most receptions by a tight end in a season with 116.
Ertz's most notable moment came in Super Bowl LII. With just over two minutes left with the Eagles down 1, Ertz caught the go-ahead TD pass from Nick Foles. Ertz ended that game with 7 receptions, 67 yards, and 1 TD. All of which helped the Eagles to their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Tay Gowan was drafted in the 6th round in the 2021 NFL Draft out of the University of Central Florida. In his lone season at UCF, Gowan had 31 tackles, 8 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions in 2019. Known for bringing an extra level of aggressiveness to the field, Gowan will look to add some young depth to a cornerback room that is aging. He is still has some work to do before he can be CB1 on this team, but with the right foundation and mentorship, Gowan could prove to be a steal for the Eagles.
Even though his time in Philadelphia has come to an end, Zach Ertz is going to go down as one of the best players in franchise history. In his time in Philly he was always regarded as one of the best TE's in football. His productions has declined much in the last couple seasons and rumors of his departure were always on people's mind. Even though people are upset over the fact he was traded and the compensation for a 3x Pro Bowler may not seem enough, all great things must come to an end. Getting a young CB and more draft capital for a player that is one the decline is a huge addition for a franchise that is rebuilding.
Even though it is sad to see Zach and Julie Ertz leave, they will always be part of the Eagles family. He will leave Philly as one of the greatest players in franchise history. Without him and his leadership the Eagles are not Super Bowl Champions. He was a class act on and off the field and was truly a fan favorite. When his career is over, he has done enough to get the number 86 retired!
