Colts Signing Jack Doyle to 3-Year Extension Means Eric Ebron is Likely Gone
News broke on Friday that the Colts have extended veteran tight end Jack Doyle on a three-year deal.
Doyle has had a solid season, recording 377 yards and four touchdowns through 11 games. He'll receive a $21 million extension, but it could get up to $24 million by completing certain incentives.
The #Colts agreed to terms with TE Jack Doyle on a 3-year extension worth more than $21M in new money, source said. It can be worth up to almost $24M with attainable incentives. A priority for Indy.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 6, 2019
Colts fans should be happy for Doyle. But at the same time they're probably wondering what this deal means for Eric Ebron's future in Indianapolis. Indy's other tight end has been just as good and maybe even better than Doyle, but recently went on the IR with an ankle injury.
In a tweet, Colts TE Eric Ebron says he's been dealing with ankle pain since before the season began. He'd hope to push back surgery until the offseason, but it recently became "unbearable." A free agent this coming spring, he's said multiple times he wants to return to Indy.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) November 25, 2019
Ebron is a free agent this offseason, so this Doyle extension could indicate that they're willing to let the 26-year-old walk.
If the Doyle extension is a sign of the Colts prioritizing one FA tight end at the expense of another (Ebron), I think it’s the right call.
— Luke Schultheis (@LuckAtLuke) December 6, 2019
Don’t mind if Ebron is back—at a fair price but Doyle is the more complete player and does all of the little things that help a team win.
The Detroit Lions took Ebron with the 10th overall pick in the 2014 draft, though he never lived up to the hype in MoTown. Ebron had a breakout year in 2018 with the Colts that saw him record a career-high 66 receptions and 13 touchdowns. Injuries slowed him down this year, limiting him to just 31 receptions and three TDs in 11 games before hitting the IR.
With Ebron expected to undergo surgery on both ankles in the near future, the Colts may be less inclined to bring him back over the offseason.