The Detroit Lions may break one of their own rules to keep Sam LaPorta
Contract talks with LaPorta have stalled, but Detroit still has a rarely used tool that could keep its star tight end under team control without immediately resetting the market.
This is sure to have some Lions fans split on what to do. Some may say “just pay him,” and others may say “just trade him for a cornerback.” At this point, the first option is the most likely one. But LaPorta is going to want a big deal, and it’s probably a market-resetting one. He might be looking to be the first tight end to break into the $20 million-a-year deal that every recently extended tight end has just missed.
Maybe Detroit will do that, but here’s the thing: the ball is actually firmly in their court.
Potentially using the franchise tag for the first time changes everything
It’s not like a real rule the Lions have spoken out loud, but it feels like an unwritten one. The Lions are a team that gets the deals done. That has seemingly been a source of pride for this franchise. They play their guys, and they pay them on time. This is the first time that they’ve had to break off negotiations with a major star during the season.
If things break down, that unwritten rule of never using the franchise tag can help solve problems for the team and kind of for LaPorta too. The projected franchise tag for tight ends in 2027 is around $17.5 million. Think about that for a second. The top of the tight end market is already right around $19 million per year. George Kittle is at $19.1 million per year. Trey McBride is right around $19 million.
If LaPorta wants to reset the market at $20 million, Detroit doesn’t have to panic. They don’t have to say, “Well, if we don’t give him this contract right now, we’re going to lose him.” That’s just not where they are. If the Lions get through this season without a long-term deal, assuming talks are really off for the rest of the year, they could franchise tag him for around $17.5 million. And if they really wanted to, they could tag him again the following year. The second tag would cost about $21 million. So the Lions have the ability to keep LaPorta under team control for multiple years without giving him the kind of massive long-term guarantees that come with an extension. That’s a huge advantage for Detroit.
I’m not saying they should franchise tag LaPorta twice and make this ugly. That’s not really how Holmes has operated with his core players. As we said, Holmes has never used the franchise tag. So using it twice on one player would be a shock. But the option is there.
LaPorta’s back is still a factor
LaPorta has been playing well so far this season. He has 14 receptions for 144 yards and one touchdown. That’s seventh in receptions among tight ends and eighth in yards. Not bad, but if you’re the Lions, you’re probably wanting to know that he can finish the season with no setbacks before you do possibly reset the market with him.
So far, there have been no setbacks, and LaPorta looks like his usual self. We’ll see where this thing goes, but at the end of the day, the Lions are in a pretty good spot with him, and there shouldn’t be any cause for concern or any thoughts that maybe they should trade him at the deadline for a starting cornerback. Even if it does make you wonder what they could fetch with him.
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