Who Should I Start? Zach Ertz or Gerald Everett

Sunday, March 9, 7:04 AM

Veteran tight end Zach Ertz signed a one-year, $6.25 million contract with the Washington Commanders on Saturday. The deal includes up to $9 million in incentives. Ertz returns to the Commanders after a productive season in 2024 as quarterback Jayden Daniels' safety valve, owning 18% of Washington's target share. The three-time Pro Bowler caught 66 of 91 targets for 674 yards and seven touchdowns over 17 games. It was the first time since 2018 that Ertz played an entire season. With the emergence of Dyami Brown in the postseason and the Commanders trading for wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. in March, Ertz will have more competition for targets in 2025. Despite competing for targets with Terry McLaurin, Samuel, and Brown, Ertz remains a decent fantasy option at the tight end position. As Daniels' primary middle-of-the-field option, Ertz is a high-end TE2 heading into early best-ball drafts.

Friday, February 21, 4:00 PM

The Chicago Bears informed veteran tight end Gerald Everett on Friday that he is being released after one season, according to The 33rd Team's Ari Meirov. The move to cut Everett will save the Bears $5.5 million in salary cap space for the 2025 season. He'll leave behind just $1 million in dead-cap money after catching only eight passes for 36 yards and no touchdowns as the No. 2 behind Cole Kmet in his lone season in Chicago after signing a two-year, $12 million deal last year. Everett will turn 31 years old in June and probably isn't anything more than a veteran No. 2 TE at this point in his career. Heading into last year, Everett had five straight seasons of at least 408 receiving yards with the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Chargers. His best season came two years ago in 2022 with the Bolts, when he had a 58-555-4 line in 16 games.