Eric Ebron, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers faced a brutal cap situation this off-season, which forced them to make just a few moves on the open market while seeing talented players like Javon Hargrave leave town. But they were still able to acquire an important piece at the tight end position, adding Eric Ebron on a low cost two-year, $12 million contract.
Ebron gives Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers a matchup weapon at the tight end spot that they did not have with Vance McDonald. Ebron struggled to live up to his draft position during his time with the Detroit Lions, but turned his career around the past two years with the Indianapolis Colts under Frank Reich. Back in 2018, Ebron posted his career-best season, seeing 110 targets with 66 receptions for 750 yards and 13 touchdowns, all career highs.
Those numbers slid back last year, as Ebron’s season ended early with an ankle injury. In just 11 games Ebron still managed to grab 31 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns.
Putting him in an offense with JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington on the outside and either Ryan Switzer in the slot or in a 12 personnel package with McDonald as well, gives the Steelers a ton of options from a personnal, formation and matchup perspective.
Plus, when you look around the league and see Jimmy Graham get a bigger deal given his struggles at the position, the Ebron deal looks even better by comparison.
Bulaga | Sanders | Clinton-Dix | Ebron | Butler | Littleton | Joseph | Agholor | Ebner | Harris | Hargrave