3 Sam LaPorta trades the Lions would have to consider, including one that solves their biggest problem
Detroit almost certainly wants to keep LaPorta, but if teams start calling before the deadline, these three hypothetical offers show just how valuable he could be — and one brings back a young starting-caliber corner.
Look, I’m going to put this right at the top. I do not believe the Detroit Lions will trade tight end Sam LaPorta. I don’t see it happening, and I’d be shocked if they ever did it.
That being said, a lot of Lions fans are asking what Detroit could even get for LaPorta. That question picked up steam after LaPorta’s comments on Pardon My Take, where he revealed that contract discussions between him and the Lions have broken off.
That does not mean LaPorta is done in Detroit. These two sides could still figure this out. We’ve seen much messier contract situations get solved over time. With that in mind, I went to the trade simulator and worked up three scenarios worth paying attention to.
Trade 1: Sam LaPorta to the Bengals for a 2027 first-round pick
The math here is simple. According to the trade simulator, LaPorta is worth 1,251 points, and the Bengals’ first-round pick is worth 1,279 points. It’s a fair trade right down the middle.
You’d like to see a player come back in a deal like this, and this would be a move for the future. Still, if the Lions walk out of this with two first-round picks in 2027, you can’t hate that. It’s not often a team gives up a first-round pick for a player.
Cincinnati makes sense as a buyer. The Bengals have quarterback Joe Burrow, running back Chase Brown, and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Their tight end room is Erick All and Mike Gesicki. It’s not horrible, but LaPorta would be a massive upgrade and could push Cincinnati into Super Bowl territory.
If the trade deadline arrives and the Lions look like a team that might miss the playoffs, an offer like this would have to get a real look.
Trade 2: Sam LaPorta to the Broncos for Jahdae Barron and two picks
This is the one that grabbed my attention. The Lions would send LaPorta to the Denver Broncos for cornerback Jahdae Barron, a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2027 fourth-round pick.
Barron is the big draw here. He was a first-round pick last year, and he isn’t starting in Denver. That’s not because he isn’t good. The Broncos simply have a loaded cornerback room with Riley Moss, Pat Surtain II, and Ja’Quan McMillian.
Barron is 24 years old and could start for Detroit right away. He’d be on his rookie deal through 2028, with a fifth-year option for 2029, which means a starting cornerback at a fraction of the cost. If Denver put Barron, a second, and a fourth on the table, that’s something I’d pay attention to if I were Brad Holmes.
Trade 3: Sam LaPorta to the Chiefs for Kristian Fulton and a 2027 first-round pick
This one is a big swing for the Kansas City Chiefs. Detroit would get cornerback Kristian Fulton and a 2027 first-round pick.
A lot of people might think the Lions should just send LaPorta to a team with a great cornerback to spare. Those teams probably aren’t looking to deal. The team that trades for LaPorta is a team that believes it can win a Super Bowl right now. That’s why the Chiefs, Broncos, and Bengals are on this list. The pitch is simple: get LaPorta and get over the hump.
Fulton isn’t starting in Kansas City, but he’s absolutely start-worthy. He’s in the final year of his deal, and the Lions would add a first-round pick and solve two problems at once.
The Chiefs still have Travis Kelce, but he’s 37 years old and probably close to the end. Kansas City is going to want someone it can rely on who plays like Kelce. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Chiefs called Detroit.
Which deal is the best for Detroit?
If I had to pick one, I’d lean toward the Denver deal. You get Barron, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick. A first-round pick sounds fun, but the Broncos trade prepares the Lions for more than one thing down the road.
Again, I don’t think this is going to happen. Teams will absolutely call about LaPorta, and I’m sure the phone is already ringing. I just think the Lions will get things figured out, and this will be something we forget about.
If they did move him, the offense would still have Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Jahmyr Gibbs. The tight end room would be a real worry, though. Jackson Meeks would have to grow up fast, and Brock Wright is a great blocker who can handle a catch here and there. Losing LaPorta takes so much out of this offense, and that’s the biggest reason you don’t trade him.
If the Lions hit a bad losing streak and look like a losing team at the deadline, all bets are off. Still, I think they find a way to get him paid. We’ll see where it goes.
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