The Philadelphia Eagles locked down Zach Ertz.
The team announced the tight end inked a five-year contract extension on Monday, keeping him in Philadelphia through 2021.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the extension is worth $42.5 million, with $20 million in guarantees, which makes Ertz the fourth-highest paid tight end in average and guaranteed money. Jimmy Graham ($10 million), Julius Thomas ($9.2 million) and Rob Gronkowski ($9 million) are the top three in average per year.
A second-round pick in 2013, Ertz racked up 169 catches for 2,024 yards and nine touchdowns in his three-year career. The 25-year-old set career-highs in receptions (75) and receiving yards (853) in 2015.
With Doug Pederson taking over, the tight end position was a priority for Philadelphia.
Ertz saw an uptick in production down the stretch last season. Over the last four weeks of the 2015 season, Ertz caught 35 passes for 450 yards, the highest-yardage total by a tight end in NFL history over the last four weeks of a regular season. Additionally, his 450 receiving yards in the final four weeks of the season made him just the second NFL tight end to accumulate at least 450 yards over a four-game span since 2013 -- with only Jimmy Graham accomplishing the feat.
The Eagles are betting that production will continue to rise from a young player with plenty of upside to realize.
