Eric Ebron is on the bubble and he knows it. The Detroit Lions drafted the tight end over potentially acquiring top wide receivers and the results were not what they were expecting. Ebron would chalk his rookie season up to a being a disappointment and now the pressure is on to prove he is not a draft bust. That all starts in minicamp as both Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate was pushing Ebron to be better this year.
According to the Detroit Free Press, while Ebron is not a risk of getting released this season, one more bad year and the Lions might start talking trade or release. Ebron was drafted last year with the expectations that he would become the next Jimmy Graham. That failed to develop and the tight end is now left to fight for his spot on the team. He is aware expectations are high in the upcoming season and he credits Johnson and Tate for the help.
"When you get the Calvin Johnson effect and now you've got the Golden Tates of the world to come in to help you out, it leaves you one-on-one with linebackers or safeties or whoever wants to play you," Ebron said, via Carlos Monarrez of the Free Press. It's love, man. I owe them dinner after every Sunday this year."
The Lions have a lot of bubble players entering minicamp and training camp. Ryan Broyles, Jeremy Ross and Lance Moore are all battling for roster spots this season as Tate, Johnson and potentially Corey Fuller are expected to be the starting rotation. Brandon Pettigrew and Joseph Fauria are fighting for the starting tight end spot with Ebron. Nothing will be given to the second-year pro as he must prove can play up to potential.
There is also a brewing competition at the running back spot. According to ESPN.com, Theo Riddick is proving he deserves plenty of carries in the backfield while rookie Ameer Abdullah is looking like a potential star. That puts a question mark over the head of Joique Bell who originally entered this season as the assumed starter after Reggie Bush was released. Someone could be at risk of getting dropped before the season begins, and ESPN NFL Nation predicts that Bell could become a trade target come training camp.