The Jacksonville Jaguars are heading into the first season of the Urban Meyer/Trevor Lawrence era. Meyer is returning to the sidelines after leaving his job as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2018. Lawrence is looking to continue his incredible football journey following three excellent seasons with the Clemson Tigers. Could they look to make a late-offseason roster addition like Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz to improve their roster?
The two are hoping they can bring some of their collegiate success along with them to the Jaguars in the NFL. Jacksonville has done a good job of providing weapons so that Lawrence can find success right away with the team.
The running back room has a lot of talent with James Robinson, Carlos Hyde, and Dare Ogunbowale being joined by their first-round pick Travis Etienne, Lawrence’s teammate at Clemson.
There is a strong group of wide receivers as well, led by D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault Jr. and Marvin Jones. Phillip Dorsett, Collin Johnson and Laquon Treadwell present great depth as well.
But, the tight end position leaves a little something to be desired. Bringing in a veteran such as Ertz would do wonders for Lawrence and the offense.
What would it take for the Jaguars to land the Philadelphia Eagles tight end? Let’s take a look.
The Hypothetical Trade:
Jaguars Receive: Zach Ertz
Eagles Receive: 2022 Fifth-Round Pick
The Philadelphia Eagles have permitted Zach Ertz to seek a trade this offseason. That permission was granted even before the 2021 NFL Draft and multiple teams were reportedly engaged. Yet, here we are in training camp, and Ertz is still on the Eagles.
Ertz had a difficult 2020 season as he struggled with injuries. He set career lows in receiving yards and touchdowns, tying a career-low in receptions. Before 2020, Ertz had recorded at least 816 yards in five consecutive seasons and was considered one of the best tight ends in the NFL.
Landing a 2022 fifth-round pick should be enough to get Ertz from Philadelphia. Any draft compensation is better than no draft compensation, as releasing the veteran could still be an option for the Eagles.
The Jaguars’ offense would be taken to another level with a veteran of Ertz’s stature, especially if he is healthy. The fact Tim Tebow was signed to a contract to play tight end and could see some playing time is all you need to know about the current state of the Jaguars’ tight end depth chart.
Ertz would slide right into the starting role, providing a safety blanket for Trevor Lawrence over the middle of the field.
