The Steelers bolstered their tight end position Friday with the signing of TE Eric Ebron to a two-year deal worth $12 million.
A first-round selection by the Detroit Lions in 2014, Ebron never quite lived up to his draft status. He spent four seasons with the Lions and recorded 2,070 yards on 186 receptions with 11 touchdowns.
Ebron broke out his first year with the Indianapolis Colts, however. In 2018, he boasted a career-high 750 yards and 13 TDs and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
That was with Andrew Luck throwing to him.
In 2019, Ebron took a step back in the Jacoby Brissett-led offense. He had 50 percent fewer targets for 375 yards on 31 receptions and three scores.
Contributions in the end zone seem to be where it’s at for Ebron. According to Next Gen Stats, since 2018, Ebron has been targeted 19 times in the end zone (2nd-most among TE), and his nine scores on end zone targets are the most among TE.
Steelers’ TEs combined for only three end zone targets and one TD last season.
TE Vance McDonald and his new cohort both stand at 6-4, which QB Ben Roethlisberger has to love.
Giving Roethlisberger another option at receiver can only mean good things in an offense that struggled mightily without him last year.
