Eric Ebron caught 61 passes for 711 yards last season, both career highs. But three seasons into his career, it's debatable whether he's lived up to his first-round draft status, and whether the Lions should cast their lot with him going forward.
This story in the Detroit Free Press indicates the team is undecided whether it will pick up his fifth-year option. The upcoming draft could be a factor; if the team selects another tight end from what's considered a deep and talented class.
Ebron caught only 1 TD a year ago, and he also dropped 7 passes -- 10 percent of his total receptions. Among tight ends who caught at least 20 balls, that's one of the worst figures in the league.
Interesting (to me) that the league's two worst players in that regard are on the same team, San Francisco. Might not be surprising if the 49ers use an early pick on a tight end, as Kyle Shanahan's offense likes to throw to the position. The other players worse than Ebron were Clive Walford (and the Raiders signed Jared Cook) and Lance Kendricks (released by the Rams).
Drop percentages from tight ends with at least 20 catches a year ago are shown below.
| TIGHT END DROPS, 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Rec | Drop | Pct |
| Garrett Celek, S.F. | 29 | 5 | 14.7% |
| Vance McDonald, S.F. | 24 | 4 | 14.3% |
| Clive Walford, Oak. | 33 | 4 | 10.8% |
| Lance Kendricks, L.A. | 50 | 6 | 10.7% |
| Eric Ebron, Det. | 61 | 7 | 10.3% |
| Jesse James, Pitt. | 39 | 4 | 9.3% |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz, Hou. | 54 | 5 | 8.5% |
| Virgil Green, Den. | 22 | 2 | 8.3% |
| Dwayne Allen, Ind. | 35 | 3 | 7.9% |
| Antonio Gates, S.D. | 53 | 4 | 7.0% |
| Gary Barnidge, Clev. | 55 | 4 | 6.8% |
| Travis Kelce, K.C. | 85 | 6 | 6.6% |
| Jared Cook, G.B. | 30 | 2 | 6.3% |
| Julius Thomas, Jac. | 30 | 2 | 6.3% |
| Jimmy Graham, Sea. | 65 | 4 | 5.8% |
| Coby Fleener, N.O. | 50 | 3 | 5.7% |
| Ryan Griffin, Hou. | 50 | 3 | 5.7% |
| Jermaine Gresham, Ariz. | 37 | 2 | 5.1% |
| Trey Burton, Phil. | 37 | 2 | 5.1% |
| Charles Clay, Buff. | 57 | 3 | 5.0% |
| Delanie Walker, Tenn. | 65 | 3 | 4.4% |
| Vernon Davis, Wash. | 44 | 2 | 4.3% |
| Will Tye, NYG | 48 | 2 | 4.0% |
| C.J. Uzomah, Cin. | 25 | 1 | 3.8% |
| Martellus Bennett, N.E. | 55 | 2 | 3.5% |
| Kyle Rudolph, Minn. | 83 | 3 | 3.5% |
| Tyler Eifert, Cin. | 29 | 1 | 3.3% |
| Jack Doyle, Ind. | 59 | 2 | 3.3% |
| Richard Rodgers, G.B. | 30 | 1 | 3.2% |
| Hunter Henry, S.D. | 36 | 1 | 2.7% |
| Dennis Pitta, Balt. | 86 | 2 | 2.3% |
| Jason Witten, Dall. | 69 | 1 | 1.4% |
| Zach Ertz, Phil. | 78 | 1 | 1.3% |
| Greg Olsen, Car. | 80 | 1 | 1.2% |
| Jordan Reed, Wash. | 66 | 0 | .0% |
| Cameron Brate, T.B. | 57 | 0 | .0% |
| Zach Miller, Chi. | 47 | 0 | .0% |
| Dion Sims, Mia. | 26 | 0 | .0% |
| Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 25 | 0 | .0% |
| Jacob Tamme, Atl. | 22 | 0 | .0% |
| Marcedes Lewis, Jac. | 20 | 0 | .0% |
--Andy Richardson