5 trades the Denver Broncos should make before 2021 training camp
1. Zach Ertz, TE, Eagles
Zach Ertz has been the subject of some trade rumors throughout the 2021 offseason and even dating back to the 2020 regular season.
Ertz is in the final year of his contract with the Eagles, he’s going to be 31 this season, and the Eagles have really committed to rebuilding and reloading their roster. With Dallas Goedert likely getting the next payday at the tight end position for them, Philadelphia could be interested in trading Ertz and getting some more draft capital for the future.
The question many would be asking here — why would the Denver Broncos be motivated to trade for Ertz? What would prompt this? Don’t they have Noah Fant already?
Yes, yes they do.
The Denver Broncos already have a budding star in Noah Fant but behind him, what do they have at present?
Vic Fangio noted this offseason that second-year player Albert Okwuegbunam will not likely be fully healthy by the start of training camp. The Broncos cut veteran Nick Vannett. They have Andrew Beck who doubles as a fullback and special teamer who didn’t see a ton of time at tight end last year.
Jake Butt and Troy Fumagalli are gone.
The tight end position has been mostly depleted this offseason and aside from the emergence of an undrafted player like Shaun Beyer, the Broncos’ depth at tight end is weaker than almost any position on the roster heading into camp.
Ertz would obviously change that and would give the Broncos a rotation of three guys at the position to feel good about.
The fact that his contract is only for a year is beneficial to the team as well, and Ertz would provide yet another veteran presence both in the passing game and running game that could give the Denver Broncos significant snaps and postseason experience.
Connections in the league also always matter. When the Eagles drafted Ertz in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Pat Shurmur was their offensive coordinator. He remained in that role and became the Eagles’ interim head coach through 2015.
The connections are there with Shurmur and Ertz, the contract is palatable for the Broncos, and he would add necessary depth at a key position in case Noah Fant goes down with an injury. If that were to happen, the Denver Broncos would need to make a move for a veteran tight end. They might as well make a play on Ertz while they still can to shore up that spot.