Sam LaPorta's Contract Standoff With the Lions Shows No Sign of Fading

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta spoke candidly last week, after a podcast aired, about the lack of movement on a new contract. The 2023 second-round pick said the team may not be "showing the love," and that if the Lions are not in the picture in three months, "I'll go get paid somewhere else."

Many Lions fans saw the comments as selfish or tone deaf, given the timing during the season, though a few welcomed the honesty. Coach Dan Campbell appeared irritated by repeated questions on the subject at a Friday press conference. LaPorta later told reporters that remaining with the Lions is the preference.

On the field, LaPorta was quiet in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Green Bay Packers, finishing with one catch for 18 yards on two targets. It was the player's lowest-output game since early in the 2024 season, but there are no visible effects from the herniated disc that required surgery after nine games last year. LaPorta is still on pace for 79 receptions, a career-high 946 yards and nine touchdowns.

LaPorta earns $5.8 million in the last year of a four-year rookie deal. Extension talks between the Lions and agent Jack Bechta ended about three weeks ago, a notable development for a team usually among the league's most proactive in re-signing core players.

The benchmark is likely to be Tucker Kraft, another Bechta client. The Packers gave Kraft a four-year, $75 million extension a day before the season opened, despite a torn right ACL in 2025. At $18.75 million per year, Kraft is the third-highest-paid tight end in the league, and incentives and escalators totaling $17 million could lift the value to as much as $23 million annually.

LaPorta has the stronger résumé. A 2023 rookie season of 86 catches, 889 yards and 10 touchdowns brought a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors. Across 48 career games, LaPorta has 214 receptions for 2,438 yards and 23 touchdowns, compared with Kraft's 142 catches, 1,848 yards and 17 touchdowns in 49 games. Among tight ends since 2023, LaPorta ranks third in touchdown catches and fourth in receiving yards.

Applying Kraft's incentive structure to a 2023-level season would yield $86 million for LaPorta. A deal averaging $21.5 million per year would raise the tight end market by 12.5% over George Kittle's $19.1 million average. Bechta may also push for new highs in total and fully guaranteed money, currently set by Trey McBride's $43 million and Kyle Pitts' $36 million.

The Lions face a roster dilemma as well. Trading LaPorta before the deadline has been floated by some in the media, but it would leave a major hole, with Tyler Conklin and Brock Wright as the main backups. Detroit also must decide on safety Brian Branch, a fellow 2023 second-round pick, because one of the two likely needs a new deal before the franchise tag window closes next March 3. The Lions have not used the tag since Ziggy Ansah in 2018, and the projected 2027 tight end figure is $16.169 million.

A tag would reduce LaPorta's urgency to sign. Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers becomes eligible for an extension after the regular season ends January 10, and a deal near $30 million per year could reset the market before the July 15 deadline for tagged players. If LaPorta reaches free agency at age 26, the open market would likely be eager.