The Detroit Lions may already be preparing their next blockbuster extension. Despite coming off back surgery, Sam LaPorta remains one of the NFL’s brightest young stars — and Detroit reportedly wants to lock him up long-term before his price skyrockets.
The Detroit Lions have made it clear that keeping their young core together is a top priority, and according to recent comments from Adam Schefter, tight end Sam LaPorta could be the next player in line for a major extension. After already locking up linebacker Jack Campbell, Detroit appears focused on rewarding the stars from its incredible 2023 draft class before prices continue to rise around the league.
LaPorta has already established himself as one of the best young tight ends in football despite entering just his fourth NFL season. Since arriving in Detroit as a second-round pick out of Iowa, he has become one of Jared Goff’s most reliable weapons and a massive part of the Lions offense during the Lions’ rise into NFC contenders.
His rookie season was historic. LaPorta finished with 86 receptions, 889 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns while setting an NFL rookie record for catches by a tight end. He immediately looked like a mismatch nightmare because of his route running, toughness after the catch, and ability to create separation against linebackers and safeties.
He followed that up with another productive season in 2024 before battling injuries during the 2025 campaign. Even while dealing with physical setbacks, LaPorta still remained one of Detroit’s most dangerous offensive weapons whenever healthy. Through nine games in 2025, he had already posted 40 receptions for 489 yards and three touchdowns before a serious back injury shut him down for the remainder of the season.
The biggest storyline surrounding LaPorta this offseason has been the recovery from that back surgery. According to reports from the Lions organization, the injury stemmed from a herniated disc that worsened over time before surgery ultimately became necessary. While back injuries can always create concern for NFL teams, Detroit does not appear overly worried about the long-term outlook. Team president Rod Wood and general manager Brad Holmes have both indicated that LaPorta remains a major part of the franchise’s future plans.
That confidence is a huge reason extension talks are already becoming a serious topic.
The tight end market has exploded over the last few seasons. Players like Trey McBride, George Kittle, Travis Kelce, and T.J. Hockenson have all helped push the position financially, and LaPorta may now have a chance to become one of the highest-paid players at the position if he proves fully healthy heading into the season.
A realistic projection for a LaPorta extension could land somewhere in the four-year, $72-80 million range with roughly $40-50 million guaranteed. That would put him in the $18-20 million per year territory, which is quickly becoming elite tight end money in today’s NFL. If Detroit believes he can return to his rookie-year form, the Lions may decide it is smarter to get a deal done now before the market climbs even higher over the next year.
The interesting part for Detroit is balancing risk versus long-term upside. Back injuries are never simple, especially for a player who takes constant hits over the middle of the field. Some around the league have questioned whether the Lions should wait another season before committing massive money to LaPorta. But Detroit has consistently operated with a “draft, develop, re-sign” philosophy under Brad Holmes, and LaPorta fits exactly what they want their culture to look like.
When healthy, he changes the entire offense. His ability to line up inline, in the slot, or split out wide gives Detroit endless flexibility. He is also one of the better blocking tight ends among the NFL’s young pass catchers, something Dan Campbell values heavily in this offense.
If the Lions do finalize an extension soon, it would continue a major trend for the organization. Detroit is aggressively trying to keep its championship window intact by retaining its homegrown stars before they ever hit free agency. Jack Campbell already got paid, Jahmyr Gibbs is expected to soon follow, and Sam LaPorta appears to be right near the top of the list.
Assuming the medical evaluations continue trending positively throughout the summer, don’t be surprised if LaPorta becomes the next Lion to cash in with a massive long-term deal.
