Less than an hour before the new league year begins, the Lions are taking Eric Ebron‘s contract off their payroll.
The team attempted to find a trade partner for its longtime tight end, but after failing to do so, Ebron will be released, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Ebron’s fifth-year option of $8.25MM would have kicked in if he was still on the Lions once the 2018 league year officially started. Detroit now has that amount to spend, with fifth-year options being guaranteed for injury only. Ebron will venture into free agency.
The former North Carolina pass-catcher did not live up to the hype that came with his top-10 selection, and the Lions were listening to offers for him. While Ebron showed intermittent promise, he could not put it together for lengthy stretches. He finished last season with 53 receptions for 574 yards and four touchdowns.
While the Lions felt his production wasn’t worth the upcoming salary, Ebron — who will turn just 25 next month — could still encounter a decent market, based on what’s been happening with pass-catchers this week. PFR’s top two UFA tight ends have been signed, but Ebron will join the likes of Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Tyler Eifert as the top available players at this position.
The Lions will see their cap space jump up past $35MM as a result of this maneuver. Michael Roberts, as of now, would be in line to inherit Ebron’s old job. The second-year player, though, caught just four passes last season.
This guy was a complete BUST for fantasy football owners, like me, who repeatedly took him year after year, expecting Stafford to get him the ball more and prove his potential.
Cuz yeah, fantasy football is what life is all about (sarcasm)….before the trolls can comment.
He was a bust in real football too
Pats please, I’ve never been this frustrated, it seems like every single team has at least made a move. There’s still plenty of needs, young back up QB, RB, big WR, OT, pass rushers, LB, number2/slot corner. If we just won the super bowl I could understand not wanting to make moves but come on nothing to improve the worst super bowl defense InBillWeTrust right? *nervous laugh*
Dolphins
Needed to happen… Only problem is they let Darren Fells go to Cleveland. He was their best TE last year. I would be shocked to see if they really hand the job to Michael Roberts already.
Vikings, please! Kirk Cousins works best in two-TE sets, so lets add Ebron to Kyle Rudolph, David Morgan and Blake Bell and deemphasize trying to upgrade Laquon Treadwell and Jarius Wright at WR3.