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Zach Ertz | Tight End

Team: Stanford Cardinal
Age / DOB:  (22) / 11/10/1990
Ht / Wt:  6'6' / 249

Latest News

Recent News

Eagles selected Stanford TE Zach Ertz with the No. 35 overall pick.
Chip Kelly was paying attention when Ertz torched his Ducks for a 11/106/1 line last season. The 6'5/249 move tight end emerged from Coby Fleener's shadow in 2012 to lead the Cardinal in catches (69), yards (898), and touchdowns (six), averaging 13.0 yards per reception. A mismatch creator in the passing game, Ertz is a fluid athlete and legit intermediate to deep weapon who regularly burned defenses on deep-out routes. Ertz ran 4.76 at the Combine with a 1.62 ten-yard split and 30.5-inch vertical. He plays faster on tape than the forty time indicates. On the negative side, Ertz is a poor blocker with short arms (31 3/4") and may never be an asset in the run game. The selection puts Brent Celek and his $3.256M base salary on the roster bubble. Apr 26 - 6:49 PM

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Player News

Date:
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

NFL.com's Gil Brandt has heard the 49ers really like Stanford TE Zach Ertz, possibly at pick No. 34.

The connection is obvious, as Ertz played under the 49ers head coach while at Stanford. With the departure of Delanie Walker, the 49ers could be looking for an upgrade at their backup tight end spot.
Source: Gil Brandt on Twitter
Apr 26 - 3:24 PM
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

Draft Insider Tony Pauline reports that some believe Stanford TE Zach Ertz is the No. 1 tight end on the Philadelphia Eagles' draft board.

This is somewhat of a surprise simply because there are more talented tight ends in the draft than Ertz by our estimation. However, he may have some potential as an inline tight end for the Eagles, which they are likely to be looking at more of. Worst comes to worst, Ertz could line up in the slot and be used as a blocker in Chip Kelly's option offense.
Source: Tony Pauline on Twitter
Apr 3 - 7:48 PM
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

The Philadelphia Eagles worked out Stanford TE Zach Ertz, and BYU DL Ezekiel Ansah will visit the team.

The former news comes via Adam Caplan while the latter is from USA Today. The team could be looking to add a tight end in the draft despite already having multiple ones on the roster. Ertz could be an option in the second round. Meanwhile, BYU defensive lineman Ezekiel Ansah will be visiting the team and is an option for them at the No. 4 overall selection.
Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter
Apr 2 - 5:47 PM
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

USA Today's Tony Pauline believes Stanford TE Zach Ertz could still be a first-round pick.

Pauline listed Ertz among eight players that could surprise as first-round picks. "We thought Ertz was first round worthy all along though many in the league cooled on Ertz after the combine," Pauline writes. We don't think the Stanford tight end shines in any one area and will likely play the mismatch receiving role, lining up opposite corners, safeties, and linebackers.
Source: TFY Draft Insider
Apr 2 - 9:04 AM
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

NFL Network's Brian Billick compared Stanford TE Zach Ertz to former first-round pick Jermaine Gresham.

"Both 6'5, natural hands catchers, quicker than fast, great body positioning (and) versatile in alignment," Billick tweeted. Perhaps Gresham hasn't lived up to his draft selection thus far, but we doubt Ertz will go in the first-round. We aren't sure if the Cardinal can line up as effectively inline.
Source: Brian Billick on Twitter
Mar 26 - 11:12 AM
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

Stanford TE Zach Ertz improved his forty time from the NFL Combine, recording a 4.62 at the school's Pro Day.

Ertz ran an official 4.76 in Indy. He did not test very well athletically at the event, but on the field Ertz is a fluid mover. Don;t confuse the Cardinal as a blocker, however, and his primary role will likely be as a mismatch receiving option.
Source: NFL.com
Mar 22 - 10:47 AM
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

NFL.com's Gil Brandt writes Stanford TE Zach Ertz could go in the late first to early second round.

"Ertz is very smooth in his routes and catches the ball very well. This is going to be an interesting player, likely getting selected at the end of the first round or early in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft," Brandt writes. "Had Tony Gonzalez not returned to the Atlanta Falcons and the Chicago Bears not signed Martellus Bennett, Ertz — who is the No. 23-rated prospect in my Hot 100 and No. 2 tight end in Mike Mayock‘s position rankings — could have gone in the first round to one of those two teams."
Source: NFL.com
Mar 21 - 6:52 PM
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

Stanford's Zach Ertz was described as "a big, possession wide receiver," by one NFL scout.

"You put him out there, and it’s like having three wide receivers on the field," the scout added. "He can’t block at all. He has just average speed for the position, but he does run great routes, and there is something to be said for that." Mark Eckel, who spoke with the unnamed scout, suggested Ertz could be selected at the end of the first-round.
Source: The Times
Mar 4 - 9:50 AM
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

Stanford TE Zach Ertz finished the NFL Combine with an official 4.76 forty with a 1.62 10 yard split.

Ertz wasn't as fluid of a runner than some other prospects, but he showed the same consistent hands in Indy as he did at Stanford. His blocking isn't more than adequate, but Ertz can win with technical route running and body positioning.
Feb 23 - 3:04 PM
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

Stanford TE Zach Ertz measured in at 6'5/249 pounds at the NFL Combine.

Ertz lined up all over the offensive formation during his time at Stanford, mostly as a receiver or inline target. His blocking is not very good, and Ertz's 31 3/4 inch arms might play a role in that, but few tight ends can actually block well. We expect Ertz to be the first player selected at the position.
Source: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter
Feb 21 - 11:06 AM
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

NFL Network's Mike Mayock suggested on the Rich Eisen Podcast that Stanford TE Zach Ertz could be drafted ahead of Notre Dame TE Tyler Eifert.

Mayock acknowledged that Eifert is "pretty special" and will likely be a first-round pick. Referring to Stanford, Mayock opined "They've got their own tight end who could go ahead of Tyler Eifert, in Zach Ertz. He's 6'6"-plus, runs well, catches. They're the top two tight ends I saw personally and probably the top two tight ends on anybody's board."
Source: The Rich Eisen Podcast
Feb 14 - 12:27 PM
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

Scouts Inc.'s Steve Muench believes the biggest knock on Stanford TE Zach Ertz is his run blocking.

Obviously Ertz isn't the only tight end that suffers from this dilemma. "He has to get stronger at the point of attack and improve his ability to sustain blocks when he lines up at tight end," Muench writes. Ertz offers excellent receiving ability to match up with linebackers, safeties, or corners from multiple spots and has the frame to improve inline traits.
Source: ESPN
Feb 2 - 5:02 PM
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

The NFL Network's Bucky Brooks listed Stanford TE Zach Ertz ahead of Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert in his top-50 Big Board.

Ertz is listed at the 25th spot while Eifert comes in just behind the Cardinal, checking in at 28th overall. The two frequently lined up against corners at the receiver position, but Ertz offers better lateral movement skills and could conceivably line up inline on a consistent basis.
Source: NFL.com
Jan 16 - 1:17 PM
Zach Ertz - TE - Cardinal

When comparing Stanford TE Zach Ertz to former Stanford TE Coby Fleener as a pro prospect, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah deemed Ertz superior in terms of instincts, strength, and toughness.

"Several" Stanford coaches concur with Jeremiah that Ertz is a better NFL prospect than Fleener, who was drafted with last year's 34th overall pick. Whereas Fleener was more of a finesse, straight-line speedster, Ertz threatens more areas of the field and is a better blocker. We tentatively have Ertz ranked as this year's top draft-eligible tight end, ahead of Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert.
Source: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter
Jan 15 - 6:01 PM