Steelers Gab 2014 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Eric Ebron TE

There’s plenty of spots the Steelers can fill in their first draft pick in the 2014 Draft, but the latest mock draft from Walter Football has the team taking play-making TE Eric Ebron from North Carolina. Ebron could be a great intermediate weapon for the Steelers, and even teamed with Heath Miller the team can benefit from two excellent tight ends.

Today we take a look deeper at Ebron, and a couple reports on the tight end and what he can bring to the table.

From Walter Football:

The Steelers will never pass up the opportunity to grab a great offensive play-maker if one is available to them. I’ve been mocking a receiver to them for quite some time – and they will take Mike Evans if he falls to No. 15 – but it’s time for a positional change.

Eric Ebron could be considered the top prospect available who makes sense for Pittsburgh. He would serve as a great intermediate weapon for Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben currently loves throwing the ball to Heath Miller, but Miller appears to be on his last legs. Besides, the Steelers can have Miller and Ebron on the field at the same time in the short term.

From CBS Sports:

The highly athletic Ebron caught 28 passes for 682 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior in high school, and played wide receiver for the North Carolina Shrine Bowl team.

He appeared in 10 games as a true freshman at North Carolina, catching 10 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown. However, Ebron did not play in the Independence Bowl game due to academic reasons.

Ebron caught 40 passes for 625 yards and four touchdowns in a breakout 2012 season, setting school records for a tight end in both categories. He earned second-team All-ACC honors and caught at least two passes in all 11 games.

He ratcheted up the production another level in 2013, establishing school records for single-season receptions (62), single-season receiving yards (973), career receptions (112) and career receiving yards (1,805) at the position

“I’m proud of what he’s accomplished and how he’s represented North Carolina,” Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora said upon Ebron announcing on Nov. 25 that he was leaving for the 2014 NFL Draft despite having a year of eligibility remaining. “We’re sad to see him go but excited for his future.”

From: NFL Draft Scout

Ebron is a special athlete with impressive tools for the position, but on tape he isn’t the most reliable finisher with inconsistent focus, making some of the toughest catches look easy, but too many routine ones hit the ground. And his pro day backed up what he showed on film — awesome potential due to his athleticism, developing strength and overall attitude, but he needs some seasoning to his game to help with the inconsistency issues. Nonetheless, Ebron did nothing at his pro day to dissuade teams from not taking him in the first half of round one.

From: NFL.com

Based on the buzz circulating in NFL circles, the next great tight end could be North Carolina’s Eric Ebron. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound junior is a long, rangy basketball-like athlete with size, speed and agility to overwhelm defenders on the second level. He is simply too fast and explosive for most linebackers to shadow down the seam, but is too big and physical for safeties and nickel corners to hold up in coverage. With such a decided advantage against defenders, Ebron offers offensive coordinators an intriguing option to use to create mismatches in space.

Against Miami (Fla.), Ebron’s exceptional talent and potential was on display in an eight-catch, 199-yard performance that showcased his versatile skills as a hybrid tight end. He made plays down the seam on vertical routes, while also gaining separation from defenders on short- and intermediate crossing routes. Additionally, Ebron showed the ability to run away from the defense on “catch-and-run” passes, which makes him a dangerous threat in a passing game that places a premium on getting the ball quickly into the hands of playmakers.