In recent years, the Detroit Lions have taken care of their own. They have made an effort to retain the players they have drafted and developed, resulting in building a strong team identity and culture. Whether this trend will continue this summer, when the Lions have Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch up for extensions, will be a fascinating storyline to watch.
The two most fascinating extension decisions will be about LaPorta and Branch. The two second-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, both players have entered the offseason with significant injuries. Their performance in the first three seasons of their careers was certainly deserving of a lucrative extension, but their injury status complicates the situation.
The Lions will likely be a little more cautious with Branch as he underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in December. With his status for the 2026 season uncertain after a devastating injury, the Lions may have a wait-and-see approach with the talented defender.
This makes extension negotiations with LaPorta the most interesting one of the offseason. In April, Lions president Rod Wood said that the team hopes to sign all four of its top 2023 draft picks to extensions, including LaPorta, adding that he doesn't "have to play before we would do an extension," comparing his situation to Aidan Hutchinson's from a season ago.
The difference here is obviously the fact that Hutch had made his return before signing a four-year, $180 million extension in October.
What's a Fair Contract Extension for TE Sam LaPorta?
A likely scenario could be similar to what the Lions did with Taylor Decker a few years ago, when they waited until training camp to see how he looked before giving him an extension. Especially since LaPorta underwent back surgery and back injuries are notoriously tricky, it could make some sense for the Lions to at least want to see him in padded practices.
The benefit for the Lions to get a deal done earlier is the potential savings. The earlier you sign LaPorta, the more team-friendly the contract will be. Once the 25-year-old tight end looks productive in the preseason, his price tag will only go up with each passing week.
Once LaPorta proves that he is healthy and back to his pre-injury self, he will need to be paid like a top-three tight end in the league. George Kittle and Trey McBride both have deals around four years and $76 million. A healthy LaPorta is likely a tier below those names and their $19 million APY.
TJ Hockenson had signed a four-year, $63.5 million deal with the Vikings in the 2023 offseason after leaving the Lions, and Jake Ferguson signed an extension with the Cowboys last summer for four years and $52 million.
It's safe to say that LaPorta has done more than both of those tight ends despite being in an offense with significantly more mouths to feed. Plus, the Lions saw how much the offense struggled once LaPorta was sidelined last season. With Drew Petzing in charge of the offense now, one can only assume that LaPorta will be even more heavily featured.
All of these point to the Lions' interest in getting a deal done. That is presumably mutual, considering that LaPorta will want to lock down guaranteed money before returning from his injury. This should put the projected contract extension at around $16 million annual average salary.
Prediction: Four-years, $64 million
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