Detroit Lions' best: No. 9 Eric Ebron could make most of contract year
Dave Birkett
For the second straight year, we’ll spend the summer counting down the top 20 players on the Detroit Lions' roster in anticipation of training camp.
This isn’t meant to be a gauge of how players have performed in the past or what they did last year. This is more a prediction of how valuable each player will be to the Lions this fall, accounting for the role they’ll play on the team. Left tackle Taylor Decker would have been a top-five selection had he not torn the labrum in his right shoulder in early June. With Decker potentially out for half the season or more, his role has diminished to the point he does not appear on this list.
Here, in reverse order, are your top 20 Lions for 2017.
No. 9: Eric Ebron
Position: Tight end
Age: 24
2016 stats: 13 games: 61 catches, 711 yards, 1 TD.
Contract status: Signed through 2018 on his rookie contract.
Why he’s No. 9: Ebron has shown steady improvement in his first three NFL seasons, going from 25 to 47 to 61 catches. He stands to make another jump this year as he’ll play an even bigger role on offense with Anquan Boldin out of the picture. Ebron is the Lions’ unquestioned No. 1 tight end, and the addition of Darren Fells and Michael Roberts means coaches can move him around more as a chess piece in two-tight-end sets. Drops and injuries have held Ebron back at times to this point in his career, but with a contract extension on the not-too-distant horizon, expect the still maturing Ebron to have a big year.
Related:Lions TE Eric Ebron stays true to himself, learns to pick battles
2017 projection: Ebron finished third in both yards and receptions for the Lions last season, but wasn’t much of a red zone threat with just one touchdown. The Lions have added size to their offense this year, with Fells, Roberts and rookie receiver Kenny Golladay now in the fold. Still, for Ebron to be considered one of the best tight ends in the NFL, he needs to find his way to the end zone more often. If nothing else, he seems like a good bet for 65 or 70 catches and another 700 yards receiving this year.
Top 20 Lions countdown
No. 10: A'Shawn Robinson should be Lions' best DT
No. 11: Haloti Ngata still can be a force on D-line
No. 12: T.J. Lang steady, veteran presence on line
No. 13: Marvin Jones might reach 1,000 yards as WR
No. 14: Nevin Lawson more than a nickel CB
No. 15: Sam Martin among NFL's best punters
No. 16: Matt Prater automatic as kicker
No. 17: Rookie Jarrad Davis a Day 1 starter at linebacker
No. 18: Center Travis Swanson enters contract year