Eric Ebron looks like he runs nicely. Ran a 4.59 at the combine, and he got downfield at North Carolina last year, averaging 15.7 yards per catch.
In the last 20 years, only two tight ends selected in the first round have averaged more yards per catch in their final year of college – Dallas Clark and Tony Gonzalez.
TIGHT ENDS SELECTED IN FIRST ROUND, LAST 20 YEARS | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | No | Yds | Avg | TD |
2003 | Dallas Clark | 43 | 742 | 17.3 | 4 |
1997 | Tony Gonzalez | 44 | 699 | 15.9 | 5 |
2014 | Eric Ebron | 62 | 973 | 15.7 | 3 |
2002 | Daniel Graham | 51 | 753 | 14.8 | 6 |
1996 | Rickey Dudley | 32 | 469 | 14.7 | 6 |
1997 | David LaFleur | 30 | 439 | 14.6 | 3 |
2000 | Anthony Becht | 35 | 510 | 14.6 | 5 |
2010 | Jermaine Gresham | 66 | 950 | 14.4 | 14 |
2006 | Vernon Davis | 61 | 871 | 14.3 | 6 |
2004 | Benjamin Watson | 23 | 324 | 14.1 | 2 |
2001 | Todd Heap | 45 | 617 | 13.7 | 3 |
2013 | Tyler Eifert | 50 | 685 | 13.7 | 4 |
1995 | Kyle Brady | 27 | 365 | 13.5 | 2 |
2005 | Heath Miller | 41 | 541 | 13.2 | 5 |
2002 | Jeremy Shockey | 40 | 519 | 13.0 | 7 |
2008 | Dustin Keller | 68 | 881 | 13.0 | 7 |
2006 | Marcedes Lewis | 58 | 741 | 12.8 | 10 |
2000 | Bubba Franks | 45 | 565 | 12.6 | 5 |
2007 | Greg Olsen | 40 | 489 | 12.2 | 1 |
2009 | Brandon Pettigrew | 42 | 472 | 11.2 | 0 |
2004 | Kellen Winslow | 60 | 605 | 10.1 | 1 |
1995 | Mark Bruener | 34 | 331 | 9.7 | 1 |
2002 | Jerramy Stevens | 10 | 88 | 8.8 | 1 |
Ebron has not, however, shown much ability to be a dominate force around the end zone, using his size to outmuscle defensive backs – stuff like that.
Last year North Carolina threw 28 touchdowns. Ebron caught only 3 of them.
The previous year, they threw 29 touchdowns. Ebron caught only 4.
If he can’t catch 10 touchdowns in the ACC, how is he supposed to dominate in the NFC North?
—Ian Allan