2014 NFL mock draft: Eric Ebron to New York Jets at No. 18

It has been a very long time since the New York Jets have been better than average offensively. In an effort to remedy that situation, the team gave a lucrative contract to wide receiver Eric Decker this offseason, and made an upgrade at quarterback by dropping Mark Sanchez in favor of Michael Vick, who could very well vault past Geno Smith to land the team’s starting job.

As John Butchko and David Wyatt of Gang Green Nation explain, however, the Jets still have needs to address offensively, and in the passing game in particular.

“While Eric Decker was a great addition, he is not going to be very productive given the current personnel on the Jets’ offense. Teams are going to have no problem double-teaming Decker all game long to take him away because there aren’t many other options capable of beating you. Ebron will change that. He has all of the tools to become a top pass-catching tight end. And explosive receiving tight ends are difficult to game plan against both due to their freakish physical skills and their ability to line up in multiple spots.”

Finally, this mock draft’s long-standing nightmare is over. In most mock draft scenarios, Ebron is rightfully gone long before the Jets pick. But if he’s on the board, this is a classic “run the pick to the podium” choice. Ebron has the type of skill set that can transform an offense, whether he’s lined up on the line or split out in the slot. Straight away, Ebron will be one of the most athletic tight ends in the NFL with the ball in his hands.