Even with a back injury cutting his season short, Sam LaPorta still has the respect of NFL decision-makers. In ESPN’s latest position rankings, compiled from votes by executives, coaches and scouts around the league, the Lions tight end landed at No. 4 among the league’s best at his spot.
The praise around LaPorta was as strong as ever. One NFC scout called him “He’s got great hands-he’ll make a lot of circus, contested catches, especially in the red zone-and his blocking is high level,” and added, “Just an all-around problem.”
The numbers tell a mixed story, but they still point to a player operating at a high level when he was on the field. LaPorta’s 2025 season was his least productive in raw stats, with 40 catches, 489 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
He also played in just nine games, the fewest of his three NFL seasons. But the efficiency metrics are what kept him near the top of the league’s tight end hierarchy.
Among the top-10 tight ends, no one produced more yards after first contact per reception than LaPorta, who posted 2.25. His 6.9 yards after the catch per reception led all NFL tight ends. He also set season highs in 2025 with 12.2 yards per reception, a 69.4% success rate, 54.3 receiving yards per game and an 81.6% catch rate.
Only three tight ends were ranked ahead of him: Brock Bowers, Trey McBride and George Kittle, who is coming off an Achilles tear suffered late last season. The NFC North showed up well in the survey, too, with Tucker Kraft at No.
6, Colston Loveland at No. 7 and Cole Kmet earning honorable mention. Former Lions tight end T.J.
Hockenson also received votes.
What stands out most is that LaPorta was the highest-ranked player on the list who still went unranked on some of the submitted ballots. That likely reflects some uncertainty about his health, though Dan Campbell said during OTAs that the rehab is moving in the right direction.
“We like where he is going; he is trending the right way,” Campbell said during OTAs.
If LaPorta is ready to go when the season opens and can stay on the field, he could be set up for his best statistical year yet with Drew Petzing running Detroit’s offense. Trey McBride, Petzing’s former tight end, reached out to LaPorta soon after the Lions hired Petzing.
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