NFL 2018: Ranking the 5 best offseason moves at tight end

5. Luke Willson (Detroit Lions)

Back in 2014, the Detroit Lions use the 10th overall pick in the NFL draft to secure the services of former University of North Carolina standout Eric Ebron. There were many who felt the team reached too high to get the tight end, despite his enormous potential. And as it turned out, for numerous reasons, the production just didn’t seem to match the draft status.

That’s not Ebron’s fault, but the fact remains that in four seasons with the Men from the Motor City, the former Tar Heel caught 186 passes for 2,070 yards and just 11 touchdowns. He was cut loose this offseason and signed with the Indianapolis Colts.

Of course, the Lions have usually had their share of standout wide receivers to take advantage of quarterback Matthew Stafford’s impressive skills. But they have lacked an underneath presence when it comes to the tight end position. Running back Theo Riddick has been one of the best pass-catching running backs in the league. But the team could use a little more from a position that they have spent a pair of first-round picks (including Brandon Pettigrew in 2009) since 2014.

Enter Luke Willson, late of the Seattle Seahawks. He wasn’t a high volume pass catcher with the Seattle Seahawks but was nonetheless very reliable. He’s never caught more than 22 passes in his five NFL seasons. But look for that to change in a big way in 2018.