Steelers sign Eric Ebron: Grade, reactions and more
The Steelers have signed tight end Eric Ebron, and here’s our grade with analysis and reactions.
After a down campaign, Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard made it pretty clear after last season they would not be looking to bring back tight end Eric Ebron in free agency. On Friday, according to multiple reports, Ebron agreed to a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ebron had a big first season with the Colts in 2018, as he set career highs across the board with 66 receptions for 750 yards and 13 touchdowns. Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement just before last season was another point in the corner of anyone who expected regression, and Ebron finished with just 31 catches for 375 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games.
Contract Details
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Ebron’s two-year deal with Pittsburgh is worth $12 million. How much of that money is guaranteed is unclear right now.
National Reaction
Per @AdamSchefter Eric Ebron is signing a 2-year, $12m deal with the Steelers
— PFF (@PFF) March 20, 2020
Ebron: 16th highest-graded TE in 2019 pic.twitter.com/fkHY8um51D
Steelers fill another major need by signing TE Eric Ebron.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) March 20, 2020
Also explains some of the extra cap clearing in the last couple days. https://t.co/cETtJQZcyx
On the phone w/ Eric Ebron. He just got off the phone w/ Mike Tomlin: "He told me he's been on me since I was a Tar Heel, and he's happy to get one of the guys he wanted out of college. He said being a defensive coach he knows I'm hard to game plan against & I'm exited to come."
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 20, 2020
https://twitter.com/SteelBlitzburgh/status/1241052533851926529?s=20
Eric Ebron got less than Jimmy Graham?! https://t.co/yy79WHi82I
— Nico Haeflinger (@NicoHaeflinger) March 20, 2020
The $ has to be a little disappointing for Ebron since he got less per year than he did before having a Pro Bowl season in Indy.
— Jim Ayello (@jimayello) March 20, 2020
But I think Pittsburgh is pretty good about using their tight ends. He should do well there.
Since 2017, most red zone touchdowns by a tight end.
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) March 20, 2020
1. Zach Ertz - 20
2. Travis Kelce - 16
T-3. Cameron Brate - 15
T-3. Kyle Rudolph - 15
T-3. Jimmy Graham -15
6. Eric Ebron - 14
Since being drafted 10th overall by the Detroit Lions in 2014, Ebron has had a mostly disappointing career as a drop-prone tight end. But the Steelers got a bargain, especially in light of the two-year, $16 million deal the Chicago Bears gave the shell of what used to be Jimmy Graham, and Ebron is still just 26 years (he’ll turn 27 on April 10). He and Vance McDonald, who will also be looking to rebound from a disappointing season in 2019, should form a very nice tight end duo for the Steelers.
Next. 4 teams who could sign Devonta Freeman. dark
Pittsburgh is surely trying to add pieces for another run at a Super Bowl while 38-year old Ben Roethlisberger is still the quarterback. They were aggressive in creating some cap space with contract restructures as the new league year approached, and Ebron is a big (6-foot-4, 253 pounds) red zone threat who can sneakily line up all over the field.