When the Green Bay Packers signed Jimmy Graham back in March 2018, they were hoping they were landing an elite tight end who could help put their offense over the top.
That is not what has happened.
Graham had a decent first year with the Packers, catching 55 passes for 636 yards and a couple of touchdowns, but this season, his production has been very limited, as he has logged just 29 grabs for 333 yards and three scores.
There was even talk that Green Bay could try and unload Graham before the 2019 campaign began, but it elected to hold on to him, and the results haven't been great.
With the Packers starving for tight end production, one name they could turn to this coming offseason is Eric Ebron.
Ebron has spent the last two years with the Indianapolis Colts, and while he was genuinely elite during his first season, hauling in 66 receptions for 750 yards and 13 touchdowns, he took a major step back in 2019, posting 31 catches for 375 yards while reaching the end zone three times before hitting the injured reserve list due to ankle problems.
But to be fair to Ebron, he was sharing the tight end position with Jack Doyle this season, something he didn't do in 2018 when Doyle was out most of the year.
If he links up with the Packers, he would become the primary option at tight end (assuming Green Bay parts ways with Graham) and would certainly be a major factor in the aerial attack.
At 6-foot-4, 253 pounds, Ebron would provide Aaron Rodgers with a big target in the red zone, much like he did for Andrew Luck a year ago. Yes, his hands are a bit shaky (just ask Detroit Lions fans), but he produces enough to warrant a crucial role in any offense.
One thing the Packers lack is top-level talent in terms of pass-catchers.
There is wide receiver Davante Adams and, well, not a whole lot else.
Green Bay has some solid receivers like Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard, but neither player strikes much fear into the hearts of opposing secondaries.
Ebron would bring another dimension to the Packers offense and not only give Rodgers a security blanket, but make defenses have to worry about a big-time threat inside the 20.
Green Bay does not exactly have a lot of time to keep winning with Rodgers under center. He just turned 36 years old, and while he has been really good this year, he clearly is not the same quarterback he once was.
Just ask Eli Manning and Philip Rivers what happens when you get to this age. The decline generally isn't pretty.
Of course, you have your outliers like Tom Brady, but how often does that happen?
For that reason, the Packers need to do everything in their power to ensure that Rodgers has enough supporting pieces around him to contend for Super Bowls over the next couple of years.
If they don't, it will be a huge waste of an opportunity.
Ebron fits exactly what Green Bay needs, and it would be a shame if the Packers missed out on it.
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