Grading the Detroit Lions last 10 top-10 draft picks
TE Eric Ebron, No. 10 overall–2014
With Aaron Donald, Odell Beckham Jr., and Taylor Lewan still on the board, the Lions instead took Ebron. Lewan and Beckham would go on to become three-time Pro Bowlers, and among the best at their respective positions for a chunk of time after that 2014 draft. Donald has only established himself as one of the greatest defensive players ever.
Ebron fell well short of any of that in a Lions uniform. He had 248 yards receiving and one touchdown as a rookie. He had 61 receptions in 2016 and 53 grabs in 2017, but the Lions parted ways with Ebron after four seasons of inconsistent production. Then, of course, he set career-highs across the board (66 receptions for 751 yards and 13 touchdowns) with the Indianapolis Colts in 2018.
Grade: D+
DE Ezekiel Ansah, No. 5 overall-2013
After being drafted fifth overall by the Lions in 2013, “Ziggy” Ansah started his career with seasons of eight, 7.5 and 14.5 sacks. In that latter campaign, 2015, he earned a Pro Bowl selection.
After that, as injuries crept in, Ansah’s production yo-yo’d–two sacks in 2016, 12 sacks in 2017, four sacks in 2018. After leaving Detroit, he played for the Seahawks in 2019 and the 49ers in 2020.