After trading T.J. Hockenson on deadline day last year, the Lions looked to the same place to address the newly created tight end need. The latest Iowa-developed tight end to become an early-round prospect, Sam LaPorta is now signed to his rookie contract.
Detroit will give LaPorta the new terms for early second-rounders, fully guaranteeing his first three seasons, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. The No. 34 overall pick will also receive a partial guarantee for his Year 4 payout; $408K of LaPorta’s 2026 salary is locked in at signing, per Wilson.
The Lions drafted Hockenson eighth overall in 2019. While LaPorta does not join Hockenson, Eric Ebron and Brandon Pettigrew as first-round Lions draftees over the past 15 years, he does follow a host of Iowa-produced tight ends into the league. Hockenson, George Kittle, Noah Fant and Parker Hesse have emerged from the Big Ten program in recent years. This batch came after the Dallas Clark–Tony Moeaki–Scott Chandler–Brandon Myers–C.J. Fiedorowicz crop entered the league from 2003-14. The Lions will again bet on the tight end factory.
LaPorta became this year’s second tight end taken, following Utah’s Dalton Kincaid. Despite Michael Mayer receiving first-round buzz, the Lions passed on the Notre Dame alum, leading him to the Raiders at No. 35. The Lions picked up the No. 34 pick from the Cardinals, who traded into Detroit’s No. 6 spot for Paris Johnson a night earlier. LaPorta topped 650 receiving yards in each of his final two Hawkeyes seasons, totaling 657 on 58 receptions in 2022. He earned first-team all-conference acclaim as a senior.
ESPN’s Scouts Inc. graded LaPorta as this year’s No. 43 overall prospect, which is in line with how NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah slotted him (42nd). The Lions paid little mind to pre-draft rankings in Round 1, taking Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 and LaPorta Iowa teammate Jack Campbell at No. 18. LaPorta was a bit more in step with consensus. The trio will be expected to make immediate contributions.
The Lions’ Hockenson trade — for a 2023 second-rounder and a 2024 third — cleared a path at tight end. Former UDFA Brock Wright remains on Detroit’s roster; the Notre Dame alum started 10 games last season. Gibbs and second-rounder Brian Branch are the only unsigned members of this Detroit draft class.
Slow and lumbering, stiff in the hips, doesn’t get separation on routes. So-so run blocking, subpar pass blocking. I don’t know what Holmes saw in this kid, but I’ll trust him until Laporta proves to be a bust for where he was taken.
None of those things you mentioned are remotely true
Troll much? Give the kid a chance. Hockensen didn’t set the world on fire when he first came in the league either.
I don’t know what LaPorta you’ve seen. The dude has been one of the biggest standouts at rookie workouts and OTA’s. He has taken reps with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams, and has look good across the board. I’m excited to see him play.