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After checking in at No. 68 overall on the 2018 NFL Top 100 list, Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz finished at No. 40 in 2019. You can [click here] to watch the video that originally aired on NFL Network.
It’s no surprise that Ertz’s placement improved coming off a year where he broke the single-season NFL record for tight end receptions with 116. Ertz’s peers clearly have a good deal of respect for him:
Former Eagles and current Jaguars linebacker Najee Goode
“Safety valve and primary, a lot of times.”
Former Washington linebacker Mason Foster
“I think he’s just like a quarterback’s best friend.”
Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard
“Their chemistry [Ertz and Carson Wentz] is off the charts.”
49ers tight end George Kittle
“He catches every single thing you throw at him.”
Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins
“He’s not the fastest tight end, but he understands route concepts, hee understands spacing. And so, I think he does that better than anybody when it comes to even if you’re covered, he can work away from or work to the soft spot in the zone. He just knows how to get open.”
Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vader Esch
“He understands where a linebacker is put on the field and kind of their job. And he knows openings, too. It’s kind of [like] playing a chess game with him.”
Washington tight end Vernon Davis
“I know that my time is running short in the NFL and he’ll still be playing and I get an opportunity to sit on the couch and watch him play.”
Ertz, who turns 29 in November, should still have a lot of good football left in him. He’s on track to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame at his current rate.
The Eagles have a lot of mouths to feed but Ertz will undoubtedly still be a large part of the team’s offense this season. We know he has a great connection with Wentz, which is something that’s highlighted in Ertz’s video.
Ertz is now the third Eagles player to make this year’s NFL Top 100. Kelce previously checked in at No. 72 overall while Wentz finished at No. 96 overall. The top 30 picks have yet to be revealed but we know Fletcher Cox will be making an appearance somewhere in that range.