Is a shocking Sam LaPorta trade brewing? NFL insider says Lions are being watched

Let’s talk about a possible Sam LaPorta trade

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The NFL offseason is just going to be full of this kind of stuff. It’s a time to sit and wonder and pontificate. Some of that pontification presents a pretty big idea for the Detroit Lions.

The Lions have four of their top players up for extensions this offseason. That’s Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Brian Branch, and Sam LaPorta. All four of these deals are expected to be market-setting deals. It’s the price you pay for drafting so well. There are some thoughts that the Lions won’t be able to do that, and according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the league is watching one player intently.

NFL teams have their eyes on Sam LaPorta with the intention of trading for him

Ok, let’s really dig into things here. It’s not crazy to think that there is a possibility that the Lions can’t get all four deals done. But I also think that’s a pretty baseline way of looking at things without understanding how the Lions do their deals.

The Lions are really into using void years and backloading cap hits with guaranteed money being paid up front. It changes the way they’re able to deal in multiple ways. They the back loading not only helps with lower cap hits up front, but it opens the door for a restructure or extension later, and it also gives the Lions an out earlier in the contract.

The Lions can get this done, but they don’t have to get it done right now. Frankly, they shouldn’t from a business side of things. The Lions’ first motive should be to see how LaPorta’s back heals up. If he’s able to come back in 2026 and be the guy the Lions are used to, then you can work out a new contract with him before he hits free agency. You also have the franchise tagged, which isn’t too high for tight ends right now. There are options.

If the Lions were to trade him? You have to believe a low second-round pick would be the asking price. According to Graziano and Ben Solak, the teams that would have the most interest would be the Chiefs, Ravens, and Texans.

With all of that said, I have to fully agree with the other part of this story where Graziano gives this trade a 10% possibilty of happening. I don’t think moving on from LaPorta is anywhere near the minds of Brad Holmes or Dan Campbell right now. He fits like a glove into new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s scheme, and they’re definitely going to want to see where that goes.

So basically, teams will be watching. But they might want to go watch elsewhere unless they come through with an offer that Holmes can’t turn down.

Related Articles