Colts Sign Former Lions TE Eric Ebron to 2-Year, $15M Deal

The Indianapolis Colts are bolstering their receiving corps as they have signed former Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron to a 2-year deal worth up to $15 million according to Adam Schefter. Ebron adds a piece who can stretch the field more than what Jack Doyle has the athletic ability to do within the Colts offense.

Ebron, who was drafted 10th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, has nabbed 114 catches over the past two seasons on 171 targets. Thus far throughout his career Ebron has amassed nearly 2,100 yards, 11 touchdowns and has an 11.1 YPC average. Ebron has played in at least 13 games every season of his short career to this point, and allows for a more balanced approach to the passing game.

Jack Doyle will likely find himself used even more in an H-back role, and used as an in-line blocker, while Erik Swoope is coming back from missing the entire 2017 season and is a bit of a wild card in terms of expected production. Ebron closes that gap for the Colts offense that is expecting to have Andrew Luck returning from shoulder surgery, and will be employing a new offensive scheme under new head coach Frank Reich.

Ebron will be used more as a designated big-bodied receiver who can be moved around and keep safeties and linebackers honest up the seam. The 6-foot-4, 250 pound tight end also has some big-play ability which the Colts offense desperately needs to work opposing defenses into one-on-one match-ups away from T.Y. Hilton.

Ebron has 21 receptions of 20 yards or more through his first 4 seasons in the league, and will be expected to continue, or improve upon those numbers. He’ll also be expected to put the ball in the endzone on, both, big plays as well as becoming a reliable red zone threat for Luck.

The Colts tight end room will now be much more interesting this season as he joins Doyle, Swoope, Darrell Daniels and Ross Travis — a group which possesses quite a diverse skill set that will be very fun to watch going forward.