Erasing Ebron: Let’s re-draft the Detroit Lions 2014 NFL Draft picks
Detroit Lions’ re-draft round 1
Lastly, or firstly depending on your perspective, is the Detroit Lions first-round pick which was used on the talented but enigmatic tight end Eric Ebron from the University of North Carolina. The tenth pick was awful high to take the risk on a tight end with 1,805 yards receiving for his three-year college career. His immaturity in dealing with fans on social media only underscores the boom-or-bust likelihood of the pick.
As is often the case with picks deemed a bust, fans will look at the players drafted near the bust to determine the enormity of the screw-up by a particular franchise and this mistake is no different. When you have multiple All-Pro players drafted after your guy, you are deserving of criticism. Ebron had his moments and is still playing in the NFL but the Lions were definitely better off moving on.
If the Detroit Lions could do a re-draft, there were many picks that would have been likely to have a greater impact on the team than Ebron did. There were multiple receivers there to be taken if they wanted talent outside, as players like Odell Beckham, Jr., and Brandon Cooks were both on the board. Linebackers C.J. Mosley and Ryan Shazier were both there, too.
Defensive backs Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Darqueze Dennard would likely have made a bigger impact, as well. If they wanted to improve their tackles Taylor Lewan and Ja’Wuan James were there. You get the picture, there were good options that have been very good NFL players.
The one person that we skipped, if you’ve ever discussed this draft, though, would be the easy pick to us; Aaron Donald is a six-time Pro-Bowler and a five-time All-Pro defensive tackle since leaving Pitt. He not only fit the scheme of former defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, but Austin also begged Mayhew to draft Donald.
A mistake that many general managers make is thinking of themselves as the smartest man in the room and Mayhew selected Ebron, a pass-receiving tight end over more proven, known commodities like Donald. Donald is a 6-1, 285-pound 3-tech who could’ve been paired with Ndamukong Suh to form an all-time great interior line. Donald ran a 4.69 forty-yard dash to illustrate his quickness and athleticism, according to Draft Scout’s website.