At some point soon, the Kansas City Chiefs are going to have to confront a reality they’ve avoided for more than a decade: life after Travis Kelce. Thirteen seasons of availability, even with the rookie year lost to injury, has given the Chiefs an uncommon luxury at tight end. If Kelce’s run really is nearing the finish line, that position suddenly becomes one of the biggest holes on the roster.
That’s why the situation in Detroit is worth watching. Sam LaPorta and the Lions have both shown interest in a long-term deal, but extension talks have reportedly stalled. For now, he’s still playing on his rookie contract, and the latest public comments from the young tight end sounded a lot less patient than before.
LaPorta appeared on Pardon My Take and opened up about the frustration of not landing the kind of second contract he believes he’s earned. He said, "...it's disappointing that you go out there every week and you bear the risk of getting hurt. You know, like last year, whatever it was, week nine, week 10, you know, I break my f---ing back for the team, and then I'm going out there this year, and I'm balling, and maybe they're just not showing the love," LaPorta said.
He kept going, adding, "So it sucks. I'm going to continue to be a pro.
And I dish a lot of that to my agent, and he handles that great. And in three months, if I don't get to wear the Honolulu blue and play for the Lions anymore, it's going to be all good.
I'll go get paid somewhere else. So whatever," LaPorta added.
That’s a pretty pointed way to talk when negotiations are still unresolved. LaPorta has mostly kept things measured publicly until now, but those remarks make it clear the situation is heading toward a tipping point. And with 27 catches for 316 yards and 3 touchdowns already this season, he’s doing plenty to strengthen his case for a massive payday.
If he ever does hit the open market, the appeal is obvious. LaPorta is only 25, and he’s expected to be the top tight end available in next year’s free-agent class.
The only real blemish mentioned here is the back injury he referenced from 2025. Otherwise, he stands alone as the premium option at a position where the rest of the market looks thinner and riskier.
T.J. Hockenson will be 30 years old.
Colby Parkinson is the Isaiah Likely-esque value play, though the upside comes with inexperience. After that come veterans like Dallas Goedert and Evan Engram.
None of them offer the same mix of age, production, and upside that LaPorta brings.
That’s where Kansas City enters the conversation. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has a history of keeping himself flexible for future roster moves, and it would be surprising if he didn’t make sure he had real answers in place before the 2027 draft. Free agency fits that pattern, especially if Kelce is no longer around.
The price tag, at least in projections, isn’t small. Spotrac has LaPorta at $15 million per season on a three-year, $45 million deal.
That’s the same structure Las Vegas used for Michael Mayer, though LaPorta would have a strong case to surpass it. Tucker Kraft recently landed $18.75 million per year from the Packers, and a number somewhere below that - in the neighborhood of Kyle Pitts’ $17 million-plus deal - would also make sense.
Kansas City has already shown it’s comfortable paying top-dollar for the position. The Chiefs re-signed Kelce to a $12 million deal for 2026 after his two-year, $34 million contract covering 2024 and 2025. In other words, the franchise has already budgeted significant money for tight end while relying on the best to ever do it.
Of course, there’s still no answer on whether Kelce is actually done. He has played with plenty of fire this season, and he has pointed to his competitive drive as part of the reason he returned for 2026. If the Chiefs get rolling again, both sides could keep the door open for longer while they see how things unfold.
Detroit has its own problem to solve, and it’s a big one. If LaPorta leaves, the Lions would be looking at a thin group at tight end and would likely have to choose between a free-agent answer or a major draft investment in 2027.
Since they’ve already committed a second-round pick to him, the cleanest outcome would be for the two sides to work it out. A franchise tag around $17 million is also on the table if Detroit wants to hold onto him no matter what.
Kansas City has its own depth-chart questions beyond Kelce. Noah Gray will also be a free agent next spring.
Jared Wiley, a former fourth-round pick, remains under contract for another season, but he has been inactive all year. That leaves Jake Briningstool, a second-year tight end who missed his rookie season to injury in 2025 before taking over the TE3 role this year, as the most promising young name in the room.
For now, LaPorta is just a name to monitor. But if Kelce walks away, he’d look like a perfect fit for the Chiefs. The only catch is that Detroit still has to decide whether it wants to let its own franchise tight end reach that point in the first place.
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