Philadelphia Eagles: Where does Zach Ertz land on PFF’s list of tight ends?
Where does the Philadelphia Eagles’ Zach Ertz land on PFF’s list of elite NFL tight ends? The answer may actually shock you.
If you ask any Philadelphia Eagles fan to name one NFL tight end they’d take on the roster over Philly’s record-setting go-to guy, Zach Ertz, you’d probably hear crickets. Still, Pro Football Focus was able to list four guys they see as being just a tad bit better.
That one’s definitely up for debate in the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ and all over the Eagles’ fan base, but lists are always interesting and, definitely, worth a look see.
Here’s what PFF came up with. Cue the drum roll:
Video courtesy of PFF’s official YouTube page
Let’s dig into this one.
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According to their analysis, Zach Ertz is second among tight ends in the entire NFL with 57 first downs. He’s also tied for second in explosive plays with 25. Both of those stats give him a receiving grade of 80.4 and an overall grade of 76.6 (both are good enough to place him at number seven among tight ends).
If you’re wondering who beat him out, look no further than Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots (4), Jared Cook of the Oakland Raiders (3), George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers (2) and, this one may not be a surprise, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs (1).
All are great in their own right, but if you polled Philly’s fans and, possibly, the Eagles themselves, you’re going to have a tough time coming up with anyone who beats out Mr. Ertz in the hearts of anyone who plays for or cheers for ‘The Birds’.
No Eagles fan will ever forget his performance in Super Bowl 52. No Eagles fan will ever forget his snag on fourth down during Philly’s final go-ahead drive. No Eagles fan will ever forget seeing him dive into the end zone to put ‘The Birds’ ahead for good.
Next. Carson Wentz is out and Nick Foles is in (again). dark
Just this season alone, Ertz has 98 receptions for 1,016 yards and six touchdowns. With that, he continues to climb in Philly’s and the NFL’s record books. Sure, you could rank other tight ends higher, but Ertz is perfect for the Eagles’ system.