Eagles finally are under the salary cap. Now, an end to their Zach Ertz trade drama might or might not be near.

Marquise Goodwin goes back to the 49ers, under the terms of the trade that brought him here a year ago, without ever having played for the Eagles.

Zach Ertz walks off the field following the final game of 2020, which also almost certainly was Ertz's final game as an Eagle.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer

by Les Bowen

Updated March 16, 2021, 8:38 p.m. ET

Published March 16, 2021, 8:32 p.m. ET

March 17 seemed like an excellent deadline for a Zach Ertz trade, with the Eagles scrambling not only to get under the NFL’s shrunken salary cap but to create some extra room to sign a few modestly priced free agents.

All teams must be compliant with the $182.5 million cap by the start of the league year, 4 p.m. Wednesday. And if you’re only a couple of bucks under, you’re in compliance, but you’re kind of wasting your time if you’re calling the representatives of free agents, who can officially sign with new teams, also as of 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The Eagles officially became cap-compliant when wide receiver Marquise Goodwin reverted to the 49ers Tuesday evening, under the terms of the trade that brought him here a year ago. (Goodwin opted out of the 2020 season over COVID concerns, and never appeared in an Eagles uniform. The Eagles get a seventh-round draft pick this year from the 49ers.) This still didn’t leave much room in which to maneuver. Trading Ertz would clear more than $4.75 million in cap space.

As this was being written, Ertz had not been traded, though the team tried to hype the market Tuesday evening by making it known through the NFL Network that Ertz’s agent, Steve Caric, had been given permission to seek a trade. A source close to the situation said that permission actually was granted some weeks back.

The NFL Network earlier reported that Ertz wouldn’t need a contract extension from his new team, he’d be willing to play under the final year of his current deal. Unhappiness with that pact created the disaffection that will at some point this spring lead Ertz to another city, after eight years and a Super Bowl title in Philadelphia.

The “permission” news would seem to settle any lingering doubts about whether an Ertz return to the Eagles remains possible. As a rule, teams don’t bring back players whose agents have been granted permission to seek a trade.

Maybe Caric can pitch a potential landing spot on Ertz’s behalf more effectively than general manager Howie Roseman can, provide assurances that Roseman can’t provide. But he can’t make a team give the Eagles more than that team thinks Ertz is worth, coming off his worst pro season, at age 30. Caric can’t make Roseman take less than Roseman thinks is fair, for a player who has been a pillar of the franchise, and one of the most successful draft choices of Roseman’s tenure. If the Eagles aren’t desperate for Ertz’s cap room, this impasse could linger indefinitely.

Even the bit about playing this year under the current contract could be a double-edged sword, in enticing a buyer. It behooves Ertz not to take a low-ball extension, given the questions about whether he is in decline. He is betting on himself, figuring he’ll have a better year and hit free agency a year from now as a hot commodity. To the acquiring team, no, you don’t have to fork over future guarantees without seeing him in your offense, but you also might just be renting Ertz for a year. That could affect what you’re willing to give up.

The Patriots did Ertz, Caric, and the Eagles a solid by agreeing to terms with the two top tight ends on the market, Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry. Tight end-needy teams who might have been leery of Ertz a few days ago might need to reassess. The Chargers, who lost Henry, have been touted as a good match. So has Indianapolis, since Ertz has been Carson Wentz’s top target during Wentz’s five-year career. (Oh, by the way, at 4 p.m. Wednesday the Colts and Eagles will be able to announce the stunning news that Wentz has been traded, officially. Try to act surprised.)

Teams have been allowed to negotiate with free agents since noon Monday, but under the NFL’s arcane rules, those contracts can’t be signed until the start of the league year. There is no indication that the Eagles have reached agreement in principle with anyone, and it would be hard for them to do so; a flurry of contract restructurings and the Goodwin reversion apparently left them with about $2 million in cap space.

Still hanging in the balance, along with Ertz’s fate, is the status of 2017 first-round defensive end Derek Barnett, whose $10.051 million fifth-year option becomes guaranteed at 4 p.m. Wednesday. That creates a 2021 cap charge of the same amount, which the Eagles likely want to avoid. The assumption is that they will reach some sort of agreement on a Barnett extension that would allow them to amortize his cap figure.

The following Eagles will become unrestricted free agents Wednesday: Jason Peters, Cre’Von LeBlanc, Hassan Ridgeway, Vinny Curry, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Richard Rodgers, Nathan Gerry, Duke Riley, Corey Clement, and Nate Sudfeld. Also, the Eagles did not tender restricted free agents Cam Johnston and Josh Perkins, so they are free agents. Eagles free agent Jalen Mills reportedly has agreed to terms with the Patriots and Rudy Ford has agreed to join the Jaguars.