Bill Belichick Jokes About Trying To Add Eagles Tight End Zach Ertz

Bill Belichick isn’t a stranger to adding a star NFL player in the twilight years of his career.

Perhaps Zach Ertz one day will be featured in that trend.

Ertz and the Eagles shared a practice field with Belichick’s Patriots on Monday, three days before New England and Philadelphia square off in a preseason Week 2 contest at Lincoln Financial Field. After the joint session concluded, Belichick met up with Ertz and joked about eventually acquiring the three-time Pro Bowl selection.

“I’m still going to get you some day,” Belichick told Ertz, per 6 ABC’s Jamie Apody. “But Howie (Roseman) wants two first-round picks and two of my grandchildren.”

Ertz might have been a player the Patriots looked into over the offseason when they made it a priority to revamp their tight end group. The 30-year-old reportedly requested a trade out of Philly, but to no avail. New England, of course, brought in two of the best tight ends available in Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.

A trade wouldn’t be necessary to acquire Ertz next offseason when he’s set to free agency. But barring the unexpected, the ninth-year pro probably will end up somewhere other than Foxboro.