The NFL execs rankings have been featuring the Detroit Lions a lot so far. On Thursday they had two of the team’s safeties, on Wednesday they featured an edge rusher and on Monday they one of the team’s running backs. The rankings continued on Friday when they got together to rank tight ends. Sam LaPorta came up big.
NFL execs ranked LaPorta as the fourth best tight end in the NFL. He made the list over former Lion and current Vikings’ tight end T.J. Hockenson who came it at five. Here’s what ESPN and execs had to say:
“The Lions have spent three first-round picks on the tight end position since 2009: Brandon Pettigrew, Eric Ebron and T.J. Hockenson.
But it’s a second-round pick who’s poised to become the franchise’s best selection of the position group.
LaPorta exploded onto the scene with 86 catches — the most ever for a rookie tight end — for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“He’s f—ing awesome,” a veteran NFC scout said. “Everything looks super easy and natural to him. Great feet. Great in the red zone. Strains every play, whether blocking or running routes. Plays the game the right way, snap in and snap out. Strong for his size and so instinctive.”
The 10 touchdowns led all tight ends. He dropped six passes, but as one league executive said, he has “good hands that won’t be a problem long term.”
There’s some thought out there that after a historic rookie season, LaPorta could dip down a bit as most tight ends that have had seasons like his have, but there’s also a lot of thought that LaPorta could just continue to get even better and ascend to the top tight end spot in the NFL. He’s certainly putting in the offseason work to do so.
The 2024 season is going to be a big one for LaPorta becasue now there’s expectations attached. We’ll soon see if he can live up to them.