The Philadelphia Eagles already have one eye on what comes next, and that makes Sam LaPorta’s latest comments worth watching.
With Jalen Hurts on IR after blood clots were found in his lungs, this season has gone off the rails in Philadelphia. Even before that setback, the outlook for 2026 already looked rough enough. The Eagles are thinking ahead, and their draft capital reflects that: they hold two first- and second-round picks in the 2028 NFL Draft.
That long view is why LaPorta’s situation stands out. The Detroit Lions tight end recently appeared on the Pardon My Take podcast and sounded frustrated about where things stand for him. He spoke openly about the possibility that this could be his last year in Detroit and about the toll football takes, especially when a player feels he is not being valued the way he should be.
“I think the combination of like, getting your heartstrings twisted, as well as the violent sport that we play, you know, it sucks, and 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****** back for the team, and them I'm going out there this year and I'm balling and maybe they're just not showing the love,” LaPorta said.
“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.
If those remarks are any indication, LaPorta’s future in Detroit may not be settled for long. And for the Eagles, that opens a door at a position where they could soon need help.
Dallas Goedert is set to hit free agency after the year, which leaves a clear vacancy at tight end. Goedert has been a steady presence for Philadelphia over the past nine seasons, but he’ll turn 32 in January, and the end of that run may be near. The Eagles also used a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Eli Stowers, but he has not played a snap this season, which points to a developmental year rather than an answer right away.
That means Philadelphia can’t count on Stowers as TE1, and there isn’t another tight end on the roster who looks ready to take over the job. If the Eagles want to make a real upgrade there, LaPorta would check every box.
He has been one of the NFL’s most productive tight ends since he entered the league. From the 2023 through 2025 seasons, LaPorta ranked fifth among tight ends in receiving yards with 2,104, ninth in catches with 186, third in receiving touchdowns with 20, and fifth in receiving yards per game at 50.1.
His 2025 season ended after Week 10 against the Washington Commanders because of a herniated disc in his back, and the numbers suggest he could have done even more damage if he had stayed healthy. He has also opened this season strong.
Through six weeks, LaPorta is fifth among tight ends in receiving yards with 316, seventh in catches with 27, and tied for third in receiving touchdowns with three. He’s also second on the Lions in catches, yards, and receiving touchdowns.
At 25 years old, LaPorta is still on the rise and will turn 26 in January. He looks like a top-five tight end in the league, and the Eagles have the cap flexibility to make a swing if he reaches the market. According to OverTheCap, Philadelphia has $36 million in cap space for 2027, a figure that could climb with cuts and restructures.
Saquon Barkley would be exciting. But if the Eagles are looking for the cleanest path to a major offensive upgrade, tight end could be the spot - and if LaPorta is available in March, Philadelphia should be ready to make a serious push.
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