Moving things along to part 28 of our 90-part series — assuming the roster does not change before we are complete — which will break down each player of the Steelers current 90-man roster in alphabetical order. This series will encompass many aspects of each players game and their current role with the team. At the end, I’ll give some projected stats as well as their chances to make the 53-man roster.

Let’s take a look at surprise free agent signing:

Eric Ebron

Position: TE
Height: 6’ 4”
Weight: 253 lbs
College: North Carolina
Draft: 1st round pick, 10th overall in 2014 (Lions)

2019 stats

11 Games Played
52 Targets
31 Receptions
375 Yards
3 Touchdowns

Contract remaining

Expires in 2021

$3,500,000 salary cap number (1.74% of total cap)

$5,000,000 dead money

-$1,500,000 cap savings if cut (That’s right, it’s a negative)

Likelihood of making the roster

Lock. Ebron is on a very sweat deal in 2020, and if he’s cut it would end up costing the Steelers more money. The big tight end will be with the Steelers for at least this season, and will be a big contributor throughout 2020.

2020 projection

The 2020 season should be a return to dominance for Ebron. He is finally healthy from ankle surgery, which was an injury that limited his ability to play a year ago. I think there is a real chance in 2020 Ebron even breaks the Steelers record of touchdown receptions in a season by a tight end. The current record is 8 by Heath Miller in his second Pro-Bowl season of 2012. Ebron’s friendship with Ben Roethlisberger mixed with being healthy set up the signing as one of the steals of the 2020 offseason.

Projected stats:

16 Games Played
85 Targets
60 Receptions
675 Yards
9 Touchdowns (TE record)

Summary

The signing of Eric Ebron has the potential to make the Steelers an offensive juggernaut again. He is a complete match-up nightmare, and if he takes away teams best big-man defender then I would only assume the equally large Chase Claypool to have a dominant rookie campaign.

One thing to watch with Ebron is to see if he can break Heath Miller’s touchdown’s in a season by a tight end record of 8. Ebron has a prowess of scoring in the redzone and will have a real shot at the record.

Previously Highlighted

Ola Adeniyi
Marcus Allen
Tyson Alualu
Trajan Bandy
Zach Banner
J.T. Barrett
John Battle
Jordan Berry
Saeed Blacknall
Breon Borders
Chris Boswell
Antoine Brooks Jr.
Isaiah Buggs
Devin Bush
Deon Cain
Kam Canaday
Chase Claypool
Josiah Coatney
James Conner
Anthony Coyle
Jordan Dangerfield
Amara Darboh
Carlos Davis
David DeCastro
Christian DiLauro
Kevin Dotson
Bud Dupree