The financial implications of the Zach Ertz trade for the Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have made news this week with the trade for three-time Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz. He immediately fills the need they have at tight end created by the season-ending knee injury to Maxx Williams.

However, what are the financial implications of the deal?

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cardinals are on the hook for the remainder of his $8.5 million salary for the 2021 season. That figures to be a little less than $5.7 million, or two-thirds of the total, as the season is one-third over after this week.

However, based on the NFLPA salary cap report as of Friday, the Cardinals only have just under $2.8 million in cap space.

His salary does not fit without a restructure or making moves with other players to shed salary.

He will be a free agent after the season, although he has two voided years on the back end of his contract. If the Cardinals pay him some salary up front as a bonus, that would lessen his cap number.

While Ertz has wanted a new contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, they have not discussed an extension with him at this point. However, Schefter notes that the Cardinals want to make him a regular feature in the offense. Whether that means only for this year or moving forward remains to be seen, although it is reasonable to believe that the Cardinals, by making the trade, probably will get a new done at some point.

Ertz will turn 31 years old in almost a month.

It is a big move for the Cardinals and it gives Ertz the opportunity to play for a team competing for the playoffs and potentially a deep run in the postseason.

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