Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is growing impatient.
Earlier this week, the 2023 Pro Bowler shared his frustrations with a lack of movement on a possible contract extension during an appearance on the "Pardon My Take" podcast.
The fourth-year pro is set to enter free agency after this season and shared a willingness to leave the Lions, saying, "If I don't get to wear the Honolulu blue and play for the Lions anymore, then it's going to be all good. I'll go get paid somewhere else."
The Lions are in danger of losing their star tight end without the right deal. But what is an appropriate offer for LaPorta? Below, we attempt to find out by looking at recent history, LaPorta's place in the tight end hierarchy, and more.
What have other tight ends made on recent extensions?
In September, Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft, a 2023 third-round pick (No. 78 overall) signed a four-year, $75M extension with $26.5M guaranteed that kicks in during his age-27 season in 2027.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (three years, $53M), Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (three years, $45M), and New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely (three years, $40M) also signed multi-year extensions since the start of 2026 free agency that placed them among the six highest-paid tight ends on a per-year basis.
George Kittle, in his 10th season with the San Francisco 49ers, leads all players at his position in average annual salary, earning $19.1M per year on a four-year contract signed in April 2025. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride sits close behind at $19M per year but ranks first in guarantees ($43M).
Where does LaPorta rank among the league's best tight ends?
In five games, LaPorta is fifth among tight ends in receiving yards (316) despite playing one fewer game than three players (Kittle, Likely, McBride) who rank above him. Per NFL Pro data, the 2023 No. 34 overall pick leads players at his position in receiving EPA (expected points added). LaPorta also has the fifth-highest receiver score among tight ends in ESPN Analytics' receiving metric while tied for second in ability to get open.
He also had five contested catches in six opportunities, according to Pro Football Focus data, and his 83.3 percent contested catch rate was the eighth among 35 tight ends with at least 15 targets.
As productive as LaPorta is in the pass game, he isn't as strong in blocking situations, with Sports Info Solutions crediting him with two blown run-blocks in 95 snaps and allowing one sack in 14 snaps as a pass-blocker, keeping him from the top of the tight end class. But that's not enough to slide him too far down the rankings. Overall, he's playing like a top-five player at his position, making him worth at least what the Packers handed Kraft.
How valuable is LaPorta to Lions offense?
Among tight ends, LaPorta ranks seventh in target share (19.7 percent) while sitting comfortably behind wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown (30.3 percent) on the Lions. He's closer to running back Jahmyr Gibbs (18.1 percent), who has also been targeted at a higher rate on his routes run.
Of his 37 targets, FTN Fantasy data shows LaPorta was the first read 19 times, revealing a player nearly as likely to be a secondary or tertiary read as one the offense is built around. But he's also been quarterback Jared Goff's most trusted target in high-leverage situations, leading the team in fourth-down targets (four) and receptions (four). (h/t Sumer Sports)
Prediction
Through the start of LaPorta's contract year, he's built a strong case to become one of the league's highest-paid tight ends in a return from a 2025 season-ending back injury.
While not as valuable to the Lions offense as McBride is in Arizona or as complete as Kittle, LaPorta could be reaching free agency at an opportune time. Kraft is only making $1.4M less over the entirety of his deal than Kittle, which should be as low as LaPorta and his representatives are willing to go in negotiations.
A bigger sticking point may be guarantees. Pitts, for example, received $36M guaranteed, second only to McBride ($43M) among tight ends and nearly $10M more than Kraft.
LaPorta's ideal contract would slot in the middle of Kraft and McBride at $76.5M over four years with between $30M-$35M guaranteed, but it should surprise no one if he takes advantage of an expanding salary cap and resets the market, whether in Detroit or elsewhere.
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