Not many prospects excited scouts and fans the way Eric Ebron did when studying his tape.  The ultra-athletic tight end from North Carolina was a highlight-reel waiting to happen, and was the most dominating player at his position compared to his peers.  After the Lions selected Ebron with the 10th pick overall offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi stated the he was one of only a few players the Lions considered “elite”, and along side Sammy Watkins was his “favorite” offensive player.  When asked where and how Ebron will fit into an offense that already contains explosive athletes like Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush, on top of two adequate tight-ends (Brandon Pettigrew and Joseph Fauria) Lombardi said the plan will be eerily similar to the way the New Orleans Saints use Jimmy Graham.  The thought of adding another matchup-nightmare like Ebron to the offense was simply too much to pass up for general manager Martin Mayhew.  

For a team desperate for secondary help, along with offensive tackle, and pass rusher, I along with many others were furious when the Lions expunged a top-ten selection on what looked like a luxury pick.  Adding fuel to my fire was the generic explanation and justification of the pick by the front-office and coaches, comparing him to the best tight-end in the world in Graham. 

To make matters worse, the Lions just payed Pettigrew a boat load of guaranteed money, and Fauria is a young and upcoming player who’s showed great potential, so where does he fit? If anything, for the Lions sake, a wide receiver to compliment Johnson should have been the pick, if they were going to select an offensive player.  The number one priority on offense this off-season was to find Johnson a compliment to alleviate some pressure, and for my money Golden Tate just wasn’t the answer.  But, the more I thought about the words they actually used, my football wheels started spinning.  “Ebron will be used in a role much like Jimmy Graham”.  Well who is Jimmy Graham, what kind of “role” was he used in for the Saints, and how do the two compare coming out of college?

As far as the measurables go, Graham has a leg up on Ebron in virtually every category when entering the NFL, including height, weight, speed, hands, and jumping ability.  In fact, from a physical stature standpoint, Ebron compares more to the mold of Vernon Davis than he does with Graham, who is on a planet of his own. 

Getting into how the Saints used Graham however, is a much better indicator of the impact Ebron should have with the Lions.  In 2013, Graham lined up with his hand in the dirt, as an “in-line tight-end” for 291 snaps, or 33%.  He lined up 395 times in the slot equating to 45%, and was lined up out-wide 191 times or 22%.  All-in-all Graham lined up out-wide or in the slot in 67% of his snaps, while putting his hand in the dirt as a “traditional” tight-end just 33%.  

Now, lets just copy and paste the information we were given and apply it to Ebron’s potential playing time in Detroit.  First, as a classic in-line tight-end, Ebron could set up with Pettigrew or Fauria in “two tight-end sets” one-third of the time, or one in every three-offensive plays.  Mean while, in a “single-back three-wide receiver set” the Lions could shift Ebron in the slot (45% of the time) with Tate and Johnson on the outside.  That formation will be extremely inciting for coaches, as it will immediately create mis-matches for Matthew Stafford to take advantage of, as well as allowing the offense to still keep the talented Pettigrew or Fauria on the field.  For my money, the last and final option, which would be splitting Ebron out wide on the outside, is what will open up the most avenues for the offense, while also getting the most out of the tenth-overall pick. 

The Saints did this with Graham 22% of his snaps, but the Lions would be wise to double that number.  Johnson has never had a receiver lined up opposite of him that has the explosiveness and talent to compliment him.  Lions fans can attest how hard it is too watch the face of their franchise, and most dominant player at his position, be double and triple teamed every play, due to a lack of any other legitimate threat in the pass game. 

Moving Ebron out wide would change all that in a hurry, with his ability to explode out of his cuts, win one-on-one match ups, and come down with circus style catches, defenses would inevitably be forced to garnish extra attention on Ebron as well, allowing Johnson to break free from the suffocating schemes designed to take him out of games.  

You hear it all the time, the NFL is all about mis-matches.  Even in two-tight end sets, keeping Pettigrew and Fauria on the field , while lining Ebron up at wide-receiver would help utilize the most talent, while creating giant headaches for defenses. 

There is no way to slice it or dice it, with Johnson on one end, and Ebron on the other, defensive coordinators would be forced to pick their poisons on who to stop, and would make it obvious during Stafford’s pre-snap reads.  During three-wide receiver sets, Tate could slide inside into the slot where he is even more explosive and dynamic when getting out into open space.  Don’t forget, having another vertical threat like Ebron is a golden ticket to bigger holes, and more space underneath in the running game, giving Reggie Bush ample opportunities to do what he does best in the open field.

While exceptionally athletic, Ebron doesn’t compare much to Jimmy Graham from a physical standpoint, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be used in a similar fashion.  With already some of the most athletic weapons in the league on the offensive side of the ball currently on the roster, adding Ebron opens up endless possibilities for offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. 

At first glance what looked like a bone-head pick and horrible use of their 10th overall selection, now resembles what should be the last and missing piece to the Lions high-potential offense.  Wether they line Ebron up as a “traditional” tight-end, stand him up in the slot, or put him on the outside, his athletic and explosive demeanor will give Stafford another legitimate weapon in the passing game, while more importantly allowing teammate Johnson some oxygen and opportunities, and that alone was worth a first-round pick.  

The important thing in this scenario is to understand the shift and evolution of the tight-end position.  While it was once used as a traditional blocker the majority of the time, and a safety-option for the quarterback on occasion, has now become a full force receiving weapon. 

Teams are using their tight-ends all over the field as chess pieces using their big size, and unique athleticism to create mis-matches where they see fit.  While Pettigrew and Fauria are above average for their position, adding Ebron to the roster gives the offense a dynamic tight-end to be used all over the field, and a player that will make everyone around him better.