Chicago Bears Showing Serious Interest In Tight End Zach Ertz
November 24, 2012; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins cornerback Sheldon Price (22) looks on as Stanford Cardinal tight end Zach Ertz (86) catches a pass in the first half of the game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Just because the Chicago Bears added tight end Martellus Bennett to open Free Agency doesn’t mean that Phil Emery and Company are finished overhauling the position. Kellen Davis has been dropped, pun fully intended and Matt Spaeth has returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers. We don’t know what to make of second year H-back Evan Rodriguez, so the Bears could look to further upgrade their tight end position in the upcoming NFL Draft. The player they’re targeting? ESPN Chicago’s Michael Wright cites sourcesthat say the Bears are seriously considering Stanford tight end Zach Ertz.
"NFL sources count former Stanford tight end Zach Ertz among the group of players the Bears are focusing on, with one source saying he’s “very much in play” to be the club’s choice."
With so many other needs to address, would Emery double down on the tight end position? Let’s learn a little more about this prospect via CBS Sports:
Height: 6-5
Weight: 249 lbs.
Position Rank: 2
40 yard dash: 4.68
Bench Press: 24
Vertical Jump: 30.5″
2012 Statistics
69 Receptions 898 Receiving Yards 6 Touchdowns
Here is a highlight reel of Ertz in action:
Ertz and Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert are widely considered the top tight end prospects in the draft. Both had stellar college careers as pass catching tight ends.
Drafting Ertz at #20 would be a big surprise coming from Phil Emery, but he’s surprised Bears fans ever since he arrived. He pulled off the big Brandon Marshall trade, drafted Shea McClellin who many Bears fans hadn’t heard of before the last draft and signed free agents Martellus Bennett and Jermon Bushrod when no one thought the Bears had the cap space to do it. If there’s anything we’ve learned about Phil Emery, it’s to expect the unexpected. It would be a bold move that would really change the face of the Bears offense. It would Jay Cutler an embarrassment of riches with weapons like Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett and Matt Forte.
I am pretty confident that Ertz will be available at #20. Most mocks I’ve seen have him going #30 to the Atlanta Falcons or in the early 30’s to San Francisco 49ers with either their late first or early second round selection. If the Bears were to trade down and grab Ertz later in the first or in the early second, I’m OK with it if they can still grab an offensive lineman like Larry Warford or linebacker Kevin Minter or Arthur Brown to improve on areas of need.
What do you think? Should the Bears double down on playmaking tight ends and draft Zach Ertz? Would you be happy if they took him at #20? Let’s see what you think in the Comments.