The NFL received some big news on Tuesday morning when George Kittle agreed to a contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers. The four-year, $76.4 million deal makes Kittle the highest-paid tight end in league history and could have ramifications for all teams.
The Detroit Lions are part of that group. Detroit has a serviceable, young tight end in Sam LaPorta, who has two years remaining on his rookie contract. While he’s been productive so far, the Lions will have to make a decision on whether to pay him within the next couple of years and Kittle’s contract may play a determining factor on whether the 24-year-old stays in Detroit.
George Kittle’s New Contract is Bad News for Sam LaPorta’s Future With Lions
LaPorta has become a reliable target in the Lions offense since he was selected in the second round (34th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Iowa product has 146 catches for 1,615 yards and 17 touchdowns with the Lions in his first two seasons. He is also tied with Baltimore Ravens star Mark Andrews for the most touchdowns among tight ends over the past two years while ranking fourth in receptions and receiving yards.
A player on par with some of the game’s best is well deserving of a pay raise. But Kittle’s new deal may have kicked him out of the Lions’ price range.
Detroit has several players to pay even after safety Kerby Joseph signed a four-year, $86 million contract extension earlier this month. Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson is next to get the bag but the Lions have other deals to work out including one for receiver Jameson Williams and eventually running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
General manager Brad Holmes has made it a focal point to lock in his homegrown talent but the Lions can’t pay everybody. At this point, they need to decide which positions are expendable and Holmes already has a data point after trading T.J. Hockenson in the middle of the 2022 season.
Hockenson was another star tight end in Detroit, even if he didn’t have LaPorta’s production. After catching 99 passes for 1,090 yards and eight touchdowns over his first two seasons, Hockenson had an injury-shortened 2021 campaign where he caught 61 passes for 583 yards and four touchdowns.
While that production was serviceable, it didn’t justify a top-of-the market tight end contract, which led Holmes to trade Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings.
Looking back at the TJ Hockenson trade, here is how it played out:#Vikings receive:
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) May 1, 2024
• TJ Hockenson
• Pick 134 in 2023 (traded down to acquire Jay Ward)
• Pick 129 in 2024 (used to acquire JJ McCarthy)#Lions receive:
• Pick 55 in 2023 (traded down to acquire Hendon Hooker)… pic.twitter.com/vbAzZWdkgA
The Vikings received Hockenson and used the conditional fourth-rounder received in the trade to move up for J.J. McCarthy in last year’s draft, but they also had to give Hockenson a four-year, $66 million contract. The deal was the highest for a tight end at the time and Minnesota has received mixed results thanks to a multi-ligament knee injury suffered by a Joseph hit during a game on Christmas Eve 2023.
Meanwhile the Lions used the picks to their benefit. Detroit whiffed when they traded down from the 55th overall pick in the 2023 draft to select quarterback Hendon Hooker. But they also used the 2024 third-round selection (No. 73 overall) to trade up for cornerback Terrion Arnold in the first round of that draft. Mix in the fact the Lions have gotten similar production at a cheaper price point and they made the right decision.
It’s something to remember as LaPorta’s contract comes due. While he’s a good player, he’s one that will not be cheap to retain. The price tag could also go up as other teams react to Kittle’s extension and the four-year, $76 million extension Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride signed earlier this offseason.
It all makes a split likely when the two sides head to the negotiating table and another chance for the Lions to cash in.