Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron’s inconsistent play continues as he straddles the line between his potential talent and being a draft mistake.
When the Detroit Lions drafted North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron with the 10th overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, it was a bit of a shock. Especially considering the fact the team already had another first rounder at the position, tight end Brandon Pettigrew, on the roster and who logged 41 receptions the prior season.
But with tight ends like New England’s Rob Gronkowski and New Orleans’ Jimmy Graham putting up monstrous performances across the league at the time, the Lions figured they’d try to land one of their own to help quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Unfortunately, here we are four years later still wondering if the Lions made the right choice in that draft. In hindsight, Detroit could have had one of several more highly touted players than Ebron in that draft class.
In fact, out of the seven selections made right after the Lions’ pick of Ebron in the 2014 NFL Draft, a whopping six of them have already made one or more Pro Bowls. Those players being Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan (11th), New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. (12th), L.A. Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (13th), Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier (15th), Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (16th) and Baltimore Ravens linebacker C. J. Mosley (17th).
Looking at that impressive list, it’s hard not to call Ebron one of the Lions’ biggest draft mistakes in franchise history. But the young tight end’s supporters will point out the fact the former first rounder has improved in every year he’s been in the Motor City.
In Ebron’s rookie season, he recorded 25 receptions for 248 yards and a single score. The following year, his catch total nearly doubled to 47 receptions for 537 yards and five touchdowns. In 2016, Ebron racked up a career-high 61 catches for 711 and two total scores.
Although his reception and yardage totals have steadily increased, his role as an end zone target all but disappeared last season. Ebron also led the team in dropped passes with seven, so inconsistent play is still a major issue for him despite the numbers.
Through three games of the 2017 regular season, Ebron’s play is still sporadic. In Week One, he posted just two catches for nine yards after missing a majority of training camp due to a hamstring injury. Ebron bounced back in Week Two, recording five receptions for 42 yards and a score against the New York Giants in primetime.
But Ebron’s inconsistency as a player returned in Week Three, as he dropped two critical passes late in the game against the Atlanta Falcons. He caught just two of his seven targets for nine yards in the last second loss to the Falcons. To his credit, Ebron did own up to his mistakes.
Poor Performance by me. I have to learn how to deal with adversity throughout the game. I’ll be on my grind all week see y’all next week
— Ebron85.chimp (@Ebron85) September 24, 2017
Next: Detroit Lions, Bob Quinn’s late rounders are paying off
The Detroit Lions opted to pick up Eric Ebron’s option in 2018, which means the 24-year old still has time to develop into the player the team hoped he’d be when they drafted him 10th overall four years ago. But if Sunday’s loss is any indication, Ebron is destined to be nothing more than a boom-or-bust player for the foreseeable future.