1. 2014: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
The 2014 draft class was rough for the Lions. The good news is that the best player from the class is the first-round tight end. The bad news is that the first round tight end hasn’t lived up to his selection as of yet.
After an incredibly underwhelming rookie year, Eric Ebron showed improvement hauling in 47 receptions for 537 yards and five touchdowns. The drops that plagued the uber-athletic tight end his rookie year were still a problem last year, and he remains a below-average blocker.
However, looking at other players in the class, there was really no other option. Second- and third-round picks Kyle Van Noy and Travis Swanson have both struggled mightily to the point where it’s expected the Lions will be looking for each of their replacements. Fifth-round pick Caraun Reid has shown flashes but doesn’t look like anything more than a career rotation player on the defensive line.
