Pride of Detroit
One of the first orders of business for the Lions in the 2026 offseason will be to extend Sam LaPorta and they could reset the market when the dust settles.
The Detroit Lions have gone through one of the best rebuilds in the NFL in recent years, working through the draft to return to contention. They earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC in 2024, thanks to a 15-2 record, although their season fell short early in the playoffs to the Washington Commanders.
A big part of that success has been a booming offense that ranked as one of the best in the NFL under former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, with several younger pieces stepping up into big roles.
One of those players is 2023 second-round pick Sam LaPorta, who has quickly developed into one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL, going for 86 catches, 889 yards, and 10 touchdowns as a rookie before following that up with 60 receptions, 726 yards, and seven scores this past season.
LaPorta has been a safety blanket for quarterback Jared Goff, but he can also create quite a few explosives, adding another element to Detroit’s offense. While it’s only been two seasons, the tight end is already developing into a star and could be a Lion for years to come.
The No. 34 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, LaPorta is only eligible for a contract extension following his third season in 2025, and it might be smart for the Lions to lock him up as soon as possible with the tight end market continuing to skyrocket in recent years.
What could a possible extension for LaPorta look like next offseason if he continues on a similar trajectory?
The tight end market was reset this offseason by a pair of deals, as Trey McBride and George Kittle were extended by the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers, respectively.
McBride’s deal came first, as he signed a four-year, $76 million extension with $43 million guaranteed. Kittle slightly edged out that deal, getting a four-year, $76.4 million extension with $35 million guaranteed.
Of course, the numbers for LaPorta will depend on how he performs this season. But, assuming he nears or eclipses the 1,000-yard mark again, the Lions tight end could come near or even top the market at the position.
The guarantee structure could be the key to watch here, as McBride’s deal essentially guaranteed the first two years of his contract, while Kittle’s extension has two years guaranteed and is littered with option bonuses that make it likely for him to see the first three seasons.
Assuming that he remains a top tight end in the league, he should reset the market if/when he signs his extension next offseason.
With how the market continues to grow, it would make sense for the Lions to jump early on the LaPorta...
