Detroit has already picked up the fifth-year option on Ebron’s rookie deal, though that’s guaranteed only for injury. And with the way Ebron played to start the season, $8.2 million seemed like an awfully high price point for a middling tight end.
ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions intend to bring back Eric Ebron in 2018.
Detroit has already picked up the fifth-year option on Ebron’s rookie deal, though that’s guaranteed only for injury. And with the way Ebron played to start the season, $8.2 million seemed like an awfully high price point for a middling tight end.
He caught just 15 passes (on a whopping 32 targets) in his first seven games, for 160 yards and one touchdown. But then he caught fire down the stretch, snagging 38 passes (on 54 targets) for 414 yards and three touchdowns in his last nine games.
And he did it while playing 7.6 percent fewer snaps.
« Eric had a good year, » general manager Bob Quinn said. « I think Eric, really, the last seven or eight weeks of the season really turned it on. When you look at his playing time, it actually went down over the course of the season, but his production went up. So I think he was used effectively. He gained some confidence over the course of the season, and he performed better. »
But did he perform well enough to ensure his return?
« Yeah, he’s under contract with a tender, » Quinn said.
Ebron said his midseason turnaround was as simple as getting more opportunities in the offense.
« I feel like my successes came from the amount of targets that ended up changing for me, which allowed me to be a better (player), » Ebron said as he cleaned out his locker Monday morning. « The way they started to utilize me going into the end of the year, which allowed me to do what I do best. And I just feel like that was the best possible thing for me, and it worked out.
« Hopefully we can continue that so my whole season goes the way it ended. »
And it seems the Lions are willing to give him that chance.
