The Detroit Lions continued "The Offseason of Matthew Stafford" by adding the draft's most dynamic tight end in Eric Ebron.
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General manager Martin Mayhew clearly targeted offensive help, being rumored in talks to trade up for one of the top two wide receivers. Instead, they settled for the uber-athletic tight end who has been compared to Vernon Davis.
Ebron has great speed, quickness, leaping ability and is terrific making catches away from his body.
The downside in Ebron's game is that he isn't a very good or willing blocker -- which makes the addition interesting. With needs on defense, new coach Jim Caldwell has discussed how he wants to move toward a power-running attack.
Ebron will join red-zone tight end target Joseph Fauria and newly re-signed former first-round pick Brandon Pettigrew.
Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi likely will use Ebron as a move tight end, similar to Jimmy Graham in the New Orleans Saints' offense. He might spend more of his rookie season in a slot receiver role than in-line.
"There are some things that we did with Jimmy in New Orleans that we will be able to do with Eric and maybe some things we can do with Eric that we didn't do with Jimmy," Lombardi said Thursday, per the team's official website. "They are both unique but (Ebron) is going to have a pretty big role in what we plan on doing."
Ebron proposed to his long-time girlfriend Thursday before the draft. Now he will have to get to know his new quarterback well, as both will play a big role in how productive the Lions will be in 2014.
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