Kim Klement-Imagn Images

Eric Ebron was at the Detroit Lions' facility on Sunday, why the former 10th overall pick was in Allen Park

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Mike Payton | Last updated Jun 30, 2025 12:39 PM ET

Way back in 2014, the Detroit Lions made maybe one of their most "controversial" draft picks in their history when they drafted North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron with the 10th pick in the NFL Draft.

Controversial is in quotation marks because, in my opinion, everything about this pick has been blown out of the water for years. Ebron struggled early for the Lions, and some fans who were upset about the pick never let him forget that. They think he was one of the worst picks in Lions history.

In reality, he was a decent tier two tight end who was always going to be an early first-round draft pick, whether the Lions picked him or not. In 2018, he left the Lions and had a Pro Bowl season with the Colts.

On Sunday, he came back to the Lions' facility in Allen Park for the first time in eight years to help out at his former teammate Calvin Johnson's youth camp.

Look who was back at the Lions’ facility for a Calvin Johnson Foundation youth camp.

(Peep the IG name) pic.twitter.com/XerqAy4yxp
— Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) June 30, 2025

That's pretty cool that he did that despite the way he was treated by some in Detroit. Especially when he didn't really deserve it. Even if he defended himself and never let it go. You can't really blame him, though. It's not his fault Aaron Donald got picked three picks later.

By the way, this wasn't the first time Ebron has been around the Lions lately. Maybe his first time at the practice facility in a long time, but he and Johnson attended the Lions Divisional round game against the Commanders together.