It was a bit of a surprise, but after the Buffalo Bills traded up to snag Sammy Watkins, and Khalil Mack, Mike Evans, Anthony Barr and Justin Gilbert were all taken, the Lions decided to go with the top tight end in the draft at No. 10 overall, Eric Ebron.
It would have been nicer if the Lions could have managed to trade down and still get Ebron or take a defensive back in line with its ranking, but Martin Mayhew decided to stay put and simply add yet another weapon for Joe Lombardi to play with:
More on Ebron to Lions. Was told think Jimmy Graham in the way Lombardi will use him. Lions O- Stafford, CJ, Tate, Bush & Pettigrew
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) May 9, 2014
It’s interesting that Mortensen lumped Pettigrew in there. Sure, he’s had his moments and still some untapped talent — a lot of the same things that were said about him are now being said about Ebron — but he was ranked lowly in 2013:
Brandon Pettigrew was our 10th lowest graded TE in 2013. Despite re-signing, it’s easy to see why the Lions wanted to upgrade.
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) May 9, 2014
And what about Joseph Fauria? He’s retiring to join Dancing with the Stars full time– no, but the Lions obviously weren’t thinking about Fauria in picking the first Top 10 drafted TE since Vernon Davis (2006).
How would you grade the Lions’ pick? CBSSports says C – and I think they’re wrong.
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