LA Chargers: Ranking 3 potential tight ends to replace Hunter Henry

1. Zach Ertz

Zach Ertz has always felt like the LA Chargers back-up plan

Prior to this morning, I was always pro-Hunter Henry over Zach Ertz. Like Rudolph, Ertz is on the wrong side of 30 and is coming off of the worst season of his career. However, with his minuscule trade value and a team out after the 2021 season, I think it is worth it to trade a late-round pick for Ertz.

If the Eagles do not budge at the third or fourth-round pick that they are reportedly asking for then the Chargers should just hang up the phone. Paying Ertz $8 million and having to trade a mid-round pick is not smart business for the Chargers.

I would rather just draft a tight end or go down the list and use any of the extra cap space elsewhere. However, it is very unlikely that there will be any suitors in this range and I would be shocked if Philly got more than a sixth-round pick for Ertz.

The best-case scenario for the LA Chargers would be the Eagles simply releasing Ertz and the Chargers signing him. However, there is a risk in that situation. The Chargers could either not sign Ertz, who could spurn them for another team, or the Chargers could miss out on other options and Ertz not even be released.

The Chargers cannot wait around too long for the Eagles to release Ertz and jeopardize missing out on any other potential tight end. At that point, the Bolts would be locking themselves into Ertz and would essentially force themselves to pay more as the Eagles would have more leverage.

I think the best Zach Ertz is still behind us but he could be a solid addition to the LA Chargers offense that feeds off of great quarterback play. A target quartet of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz is not too shabby.