The 2014 NFL Draft class has widely been recognized as potentially being the deepest draft class of all time. With the Steelers picking at the 15th selection, a bevy of talented players will be at their disposal. Justin Gilbert or Darqueze Dennard could potentially be sitting there at 15 and would help solidify the cornerback position in the secondary.
Mike Evans and Kelvin Benjamin are two tall, big-bodied receivers and either would immediately help alleviate the Steelers deficiencies in the red zone. However, I believe that the Steelers should select tight end Eric Ebron from North Carolina. Here are my five reasons as to why he would be the perfect selection for the Black and Gold.
Eric Ebron would be an adequate backup and potential replacement for Heath Miller
The Steelers already have a do it all tight end in the form of Heath Miller, but Miller is on the wrong side of 30 and will turn 32 in October. At this point in his career, his ceiling has been reached and it is time to start thinking about grooming his replacement. Further exacerbating the problem is that the depth behind Heath Miller is beyond atrocious and the Steelers found that out the hard way.
At the start of the 2013 season, David Paulson and Michael Palmer were expected to fill in for Miller while he recovered from his torn ACL. To say they performed less than admirably would be putting it mildly.Their subpar production was one of the primary reasons the offense refused to click during the month of September.
Matt Spaeth did well when he returned to action during the latter part of the year, but he is simply nothing more than a glorified blocking tight end with limited ability to contribute in the passing game. Insert Eric Ebron.
He is hands down the best tight end in the draft and finished his career with 112 catches, 1,805 yards, and eight TD’s. Most importantly, Ebron is the complete package tight end the Steelers normally covet. He can make the tough catches, flex out to the slot or play on the line, and he can kill defenses with his 4.50 speed. While he did cut his teeth in college as a receiver, his in-line blocking has steadily improved and should only get better.
Ebron has room to grow, as all rookies do, but one would be hard pressed to find a more NFL ready tight end in this draft class. If, God forbid, something happens to Heath Miller again, the Steelers need to have a better fall back option in 2014. Eric Ebron gives them that option while also giving the team someone to invest in for the next decade.
Eric Ebron fits the need for a tall receiver
According to Gerry Dulac of the Post Gazette, the Steelers have promised Big Ben that they would get him a tall receiver in the draft. However, I have yet to hear a report that specifically said wide receiver so why can’t Eric Ebron be that guy? At 6’4″ 250 pounds, Ebron certainly fits the mold of a tall, big-bodied receiver. He would be bigger than any safety or corner a team could put on him and he would be faster than most linebackers as well. That just spells coverage nightmare.
His size alone will make him a red zone threat which will help take pressure off of Heath Miller inside the twenties. Height is one of those things you just cannot teach and his height will be invaluable in the red zone, particularly on the fade route which the Steelers have recently become fond of. If the Steelers are serious about improving in the red zone, Eric Ebron is the first place they should look.
The Steelers need as many draft picks as possible
The Pittsburgh Steelers have many needs on both sides of the ball they need to fill which include corner, outside linebacker, defensive end, nose tackle, wide receiver, tight end and running back. Drafting Eric Ebron will help fill two of those needs. As aforementioned, not only can he can be the backup to Heath Miller and eventually his replacement, but he can also be the tall, big-bodied receiver the Steelers so desperately need. Essentially, the Steelers would be killing two birds with one stone and would be getting more bang for their buck, or in this case draft pick.
Crossing off two needs with one draft pick will also give the Steelers the flexibility to double up at another position, if they so choose to do. With the numerous holes on the roster, the Steelers cannot afford to pass up this golden opportunity.
More versatility to the no huddle offense
Drafting Eric Ebron would also work wonders for the no huddle offense as his unique blend of size, speed, and athletic ability will make him a matchup nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. Do you cover him with a linebacker, safety or a corner? Good luck figuring that one out.
Further, the Steelers would no longer have to be overly reliant on using 11 personnel to run the no huddle. Having Ebron would allow the Steelers the flexibility to run no huddle out of 12 or 22 personnel which they started doing a bit more once Matt Spaeth returned from injury.
All they would have to do is flex Ebron out wide or in the slot. Having that flexibility will make the offense less predictable and will prevent teams from stacking the box. In turn, LeVeon Bell should find a lot more running room next year. If the Steelers plan to incorporate more no huddle in 2014, drafting Eric Ebron would certainly help achieve that goal.
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