​Despite a season cut short by injury, Sam LaPorta remains highly regarded by NFL executives, coaches, and scouts as one of the league’s top tight ends. The Detroit Lions tight end underwent back surgery last November to repair a herniated disc, and Lions head coach Dan Campbell said last month that LaPorta is “trending the right way” as he progresses toward Detroit’s 2026 training camp. As LaPorta continues his rehabilitation and works to regain form, ESPN’s survey of NFL decision-makers suggests that the consensus around the league is that he will bounce back to his pre-injury level of play.
In ESPN’s survey, LaPorta was ranked No. 4 among tight ends in the NFL. Evaluators noted that his lower production in 2024 did not reflect a decline in his overall play. He appeared in nine games and posted a career-low 40 receptions for 489 yards and three touchdowns. Yet his playmaking ability remained evident in space: LaPorta averaged 2.25 yards after first contact per reception, leading a top-10 group, and he racked up 6.9 yards after the catch per reception, the best figure among tight ends. “He’s got great hands — he’ll make a lot of circus, contested catches, especially in the red zone — and his blocking is high level. He’s just an all-around problem,” an NFC scout commented to ESPN.
LaPorta’s impact extends beyond his numbers. In 2023, he set the NFL rookie tight end reception record with 86 catches, amassing 889 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in his debut season. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound tight end earned second-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl berth that year. He followed that with 60 receptions for 726 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, underscoring the impression he has made across the league.
The ESPN survey reveals the level of respect LaPorta commands, with some ballots placing him as high as No. 3 among NFL tight ends. The top three at the position in the survey were Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders (No. 1), Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals (No. 2), and George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers (No. 3). As LaPorta works back from surgery and rehabs toward the 2026 season, the consensus among evaluators is that his trajectory remains bright and that he remains a central figure in Detroit’s long-term plans.
For more Lions coverage, follow The Lions Wire on X, @TheLionsWire, and like the Lions Wire Facebook page. You can also follow Josh on X, @JoshOnLions. This article originally appeared on Lions Wire under the headline that Sam LaPorta ranked inside the top five tight ends by NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, highlighting the high expectations surrounding him despite last season’s setback.