Ravens Rumor: Free Agent Zach Ertz 'Wants To Sign with Contender' Like Baltimore; 'Perfect Fit'?

Ravens Rumor: Free Agent Zach Ertz 'Wants To Sign with Contender' Like Baltimore; 'Perfect Fit'?

The Baltimore Ravens lost All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews for the rest of the regular season after an ankle injury, with second-year tight end Isaiah Likely stepping up well against the Los Angeles Chargers.

But some help could be on the way.

Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz, who wanted and got a release from the Arizona Cardinals, cleared waivers and is now a free agent, with Baltimore being named by multiple news outlets as a possible destination, along with his former employer, the Philadelphia Eagles. (ESPN also mentions the Chiefs and Bills as "contender'' landing spots.)

Tony Vozza of Heavy.com thinks that Ertz in Baltimore would be a "perfect fit'' ... and if you follow our coverage of the Ravens and the NFL, you probably know part of where we're going here ...

"Ertz would be a perfect fit for a Ravens team that has been bringing in journeymen tight ends for workouts to fill Andrews’ spot," Vozza wrote. "It would take the pressure off of Isaiah Likely and would give another weapon to quarterback Lamar Jackson."

Free agent tight end Zach Ertz is on the lookout for a new team / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

It does seem like Ertz in Baltimore could be a "sensible fit.'' But a "perfect fit''? That's absurd.

There is, first off, no such thing as a "perfect fit.'' (We love Mark Andrews, but not even he's "perfect.'')

We will also argue that Likely and company are showing they are capable of picking up some of the slack thus far.

Would there be the potential for Andrews to return in the postseason, thus creating a log jam at the tight end position? That would be worked out.

But can Ertz still contribute at a high level? Why would the Ravens truly covet Ertz, who only has 187 yards and a touchdown on 27 receptions in seven games, is not a breakaway threat, and is not a blocker? Are we really sure he would be an upgrade of Likely?

If there were a time to get Ertz into the building and get him up to speed, it would be now, as the Ravens are enjoying their bye week. All of this makes this "an idea'' - but not a "perfect idea.''