Steelers sign TE Eric Ebron, trade for Ravens defensive lineman Chris Wormley

At a midseason news conference last year, Mike Tomlin was asked to explain the reason for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ declining production in the red zone.

“What do you think?” Tomlin retorted.

The inference was clear: Without Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback, the team’s red-zone efficiency, which finished the worst in the NFL, was not a surprising revelation.

Roethlisberger will be back this season with a healthier elbow after undergoing season-ending surgery, and the Steelers took a step Friday to provide the 38-year-old quarterback with a formidable target in the red zone.

The Steelers bolstered their tight end position by signing 6-foot-4, 253-pound Eric Ebron to a two-year contract worth a reported $12 million. In another move on the third day of NFL free agency, the Steelers acquired defensive lineman Chris Wormley and a 2021 seventh-round pick from the Baltimore Ravens in return for a 2021 fifth-round draft pick.

Ebron is coming off an injury-shortened season with the Indianapolis Colts, but he made the Pro Bowl in 2018 when he was catching passes from Andrew Luck.

Ebron set career highs with 66 catches for 750 yards and 13 touchdowns that season. Then, Luck abruptly retired, and Ebron’s numbers dropped significantly.

Last season, Ebron had just 31 receptions for 375 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. He finished the season on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

Ebron’s circumstances were similar to what transpired with Steelers tight end Vance McDonald in those same two seasons. After setting career bests with 50 catches, 610 yards and four touchdowns in 2018 with Roethlisberger as his quarterback, McDonald’s numbers dwindled to 38 catches, 273 yards and three touchdowns with Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges getting most of the snaps.

The tight ends collectively on the Steelers accounted for 53 catches, 408 yards and three touchdowns, and the Steelers scored touchdowns on just 35% of their trips inside the 20, the lowest mark in the NFL. Ebron should provide a boost in that regard if he returns to form.

Ebron was taken No. 10 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2014 draft. The Lions picked up Ebron’s fifth-year option after the 2017 season, but they released him in the 2018 offseason. Ebron signed a two-year contract with the Colts.

Wormley was a third-round pick of the Ravens in 2017 and is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Wormley’s primary position is defensive end, but he played some nose tackle in 2018 and could ease the loss of Javon Hargrave in free agency.

The 6-5, 300-pound Wormley started seven of 16 games last year and totaled 1½ sacks with 10 quarterback pressures and 33 tackles. With the Ravens restructuring their defensive line in the offseason, he became expendable and the Steelers acquired him in a rare trade among division rivals.

Earlier in free agency, the Steelers agreed to contract terms with fullback Derek Watt and guard/center Stefen Wisniewski of Penn State and Central Catholic.

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