2014 Draft Grade: Detroit Lions Select Eric Ebron
By Erik Lambert
Oct 26, 2013; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels tight end Eric Ebron (85) drives past Boston College Eagles defensive back Bryce Jones (17) during the second half at Kenan Memorial Stadium. North Carolina won 34-10. Mandatory Credit: Liz Condo-USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Lions selected tight end Eric Ebron with the 10th pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
Scheme Fit
Calvin Johnson has been getting beat up a lot over the past couple years. The Detroit Lions know this and had to find a way to give Matthew Stafford more weapons. Eric Ebron is athletic phenom in the mold of a Vernon Davis or Jimmy Graham. Not only is he big at 6’4”, but he can run like a wide receiver. He has soft hands to make the tough catch and is more than good enough to cause serious mismatches against linebackers and safeties. In a wide open offense like Detroit, he should see immediate production from the outset.
My Reaction
Frankly I have to question this pick. I fully understand why the Lions did it. They need somebody to take heat off of Megatron and they signed Golden Tate. One would think that’s enough to wait until the second round after missing out on Sammy Watkins. Still, Ebron brings a lot of value to what Jim Caldwell wants to accomplish, which is getting the absolute most out of what Matthew Stafford can do as a quarterback. If that means taking a calculated risk on the best tight end in the draft, then so be it.
Grade: B