Lions tight end Sam LaPorta keeps finding himself in trade proposals, is there smoke? The Lions get back more than just draft picks
The 2026 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, and there have been a lot of thoughts on whether or not the Lions would trade up. One of the more interesting things is that some of the NFL Insiders out there have the Lions moving up in the draft, and multiple guys have Pro […]
The 2026 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, and there have been a lot of thoughts on whether or not the Lions would trade up.
One of the more interesting things is that some of the NFL Insiders out there have the Lions moving up in the draft, and multiple guys have Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta involved in those trades.
What the trades are
NFL.com’s Eric Edholm projected a bunch of win/win trades in the draft for teams. For the Lions, he suggested a giant blockbuster trade that would send Sam LaPorta, their 17th pick, and their 205th pick to the Commanders for tight end Ben Sinnott, the 7th pick, and a 2027 third-round pick.
Then, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchino has the Lions trading LaPorta and the 17th pick to the Chiefs for the ninth pick and a conditional 2027 fourth-round pick that could likely become a third-round pick if LaPorta meets the implied health qualifications. But the idea is basically that LaPorta becomes Travis Kelce’s successor.
Why the Lions might actually do it
First, there are financial savings here that are significant. The Lions get the opportunity to not pay LaPorta what could realistically be up to $80 million. This would really help the Lions relieve some of the financial constraints they’re dealing with right now. The constraints that prevented the Lions from being able to get involved in a big way in free agency.
In terms of who the Lions could be moving up for, there’s been smoke around the idea that Miami edge rusher Ruben Bain could fall out of the top five picks. The Lions can try to take advantage of that to get one of the best players in the draft. There are also chances to get one of the best two tackles in the draft, as Miami’s Francis Mauigoa and Utah’s Spencer Fano in these areas.
Is there smoke around a LaPorta trade?
Not any real smoke at this time. This is more so people from the outside looking at LaPorta’s back injury, a fairly good tight end class, and a money-saving opportunity, and then putting those three things together to try create some smoke. But there’s not really anything real.
Still, never say never in this world. The Lions may look at all of that and see an opportunity themselves and take advantage of it.
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