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‘No.5 is happy’ – Jayden Daniels gives seal of approval after Commanders re-sign $9 million three-time Pro Bowler
The Washington Commanders are doing everything they can to keep Jayden Daniels happy. After trading for former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, the Commanders have taken another step in beefing up their offense by re-signing tight end Zach Ertz. The Commanders are doing everything they can to empower QB DanielsGetty Washington are re-signing the 34-year-old to a one-year, $6.25 million deal that can be worth up to $9 million with incentives, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Saturday. Rookie quarterback Daniels was already excited when the team re-signed linebacker Bobby Wagner this week. And now he seems to be over the moon about keeping a veteran like Ertz around for another season. Like he did with Wagner, Daniels took to his Instagram page to respond to the news. He shared the announcement from the NFL’s official page and added six exclamation marks to hammer home his excitement and seal of approval. “No. 5 is happy,” posted one fan. “Keep making No.5 happy, Washington,” added another. Ertz revived his career last season after being cut, at his request, by the Arizona Cardinals and briefly signing with the Detroit Lions practice squad. He worked with Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, a close friend, and became one of the rookie signal caller’s most reliable pass-catching options in 2024. Ertz played in all 17 regular season games last year and finished with 66 catches for 654 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished second on the Commanders in catches, yards and touchdowns during the regular season, behind only wide receiver Terry McLaurin. Daniels reposted the Ertz report with six exclamation points, emphasising his approval of the dealGetty Ertz was one of Daniels’ go-to guys last seasonGetty The former Eagles man, who won a Super Bowl in the City of Brotherly Love, also had three catches for 18 yards and a touchdown in the postseason for a Commanders team who made it all the way to the NFC Championship game — losing to eventual Super Bowl winners Philadelphia. After that defeat to the Eagles, Ertz said, “I wish I was 22 playing with [Daniels], had my whole career in front of me playing with them.” “I think just being able to be here with the group of guys, the people, the quarterback, Kliff [Kingsbury], DQ [Dan Quinn], has just really allowed me to enjoy every single day… And, obviously, playing with Jayden [Daniels] was extremely fun. It was a one-year [deal] so far, but I feel like we’re just scratching the surface as a quarterback and tight end combination.” In January, Ertz also expressed his desire to continue working with Kingsbury until he decides to retire. “It was really an opportunity for me to just fall back in love with the game again and really just enjoy the process again and just be around people that know how to use me and allow me to be at my best,” Ertz said. “It’s just been so much fun. It’s exceeded all my expectations.” Daniel’s rookie contract means the Commanders have tons of cap space to spend in other areasGetty “He surpassed those and kept going on to it,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said of Ertz. “He wasn’t going to miss this [opportunity].” Ertz is the fourth Washington player to re-sign if you count running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., who was tendered as an exclusive rights free agent. It’s clear Washington aren’t looking to completely revamp a roster that surprised everyone last season with a run to the NFC title game. They have plenty of cap space due to Daniels being on a rookie contract, with a large proportion of that being used to re-sign key players like Ertz while adding veteran pieces around the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Commanders still have plenty to do to close the gap between them and the Eagles in the NFC, but retaining a vet like Ertz is certainly a step in the right direction.
The Washington Commanders are doing everything they can to keep Jayden Daniels happy.
After trading for former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, the Commanders have taken another step in beefing up their offense by re-signing tight end Zach Ertz.
Washington are re-signing the 34-year-old to a one-year, $6.25 million deal that can be worth up to $9 million with incentives, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Saturday.
Rookie quarterback Daniels was already excited when the team re-signed linebacker Bobby Wagner this week.
And now he seems to be over the moon about keeping a veteran like Ertz around for another season.
Like he did with Wagner, Daniels took to his Instagram page to respond to the news.
He shared the announcement from the NFL’s official page and added six exclamation marks to hammer home his excitement and seal of approval.
“No. 5 is happy,” posted one fan.
“Keep making No.5 happy, Washington,” added another.
Ertz revived his career last season after being cut, at his request, by the Arizona Cardinals and briefly signing with the Detroit Lions practice squad.
He worked with Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, a close friend, and became one of the rookie signal caller’s most reliable pass-catching options in 2024.
Ertz played in all 17 regular season games last year and finished with 66 catches for 654 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished second on the Commanders in catches, yards and touchdowns during the regular season, behind only wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
The former Eagles man, who won a Super Bowl in the City of Brotherly Love, also had three catches for 18 yards and a touchdown in the postseason for a Commanders team who made it all the way to the NFC Championship game — losing to eventual Super Bowl winners Philadelphia.
After that defeat to the Eagles, Ertz said, “I wish I was 22 playing with [Daniels], had my whole career in front of me playing with them.”
“I think just being able to be here with the group of guys, the people, the quarterback, Kliff [Kingsbury], DQ [Dan Quinn], has just really allowed me to enjoy every single day… And, obviously, playing with Jayden [Daniels] was extremely fun. It was a one-year [deal] so far, but I feel like we’re just scratching the surface as a quarterback and tight end combination.”
In January, Ertz also expressed his desire to continue working with Kingsbury until he decides to retire.
“It was really an opportunity for me to just fall back in love with the game again and really just enjoy the process again and just be around people that know how to use me and allow me to be at my best,” Ertz said.
“It’s just been so much fun. It’s exceeded all my expectations.”
“He surpassed those and kept going on to it,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said of Ertz. “He wasn’t going to miss this [opportunity].”
Ertz is the fourth Washington player to re-sign if you count running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., who was tendered as an exclusive rights free agent.
It’s clear Washington aren’t looking to completely revamp a roster that surprised everyone last season with a run to the NFC title game.
They have plenty of cap space due to Daniels being on a rookie contract, with a large proportion of that being used to re-sign key players like Ertz while adding veteran pieces around the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Commanders still have plenty to do to close the gap between them and the Eagles in the NFC, but retaining a vet like Ertz is certainly a step in the right direction.
