In what was expected to be a strong rookie tight end class, the Detroit Lions used the No. 34 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Iowa’s Sam LaPorta. Can the addition of the athletic tight end have relevance in fantasy football during his rookie campaign?
At 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, LaPorta may not have prototypical size for a tight end, but he brings excellent speed, evidenced by his 4.59 in the 40-yard dash. On top of that, he provided strong production during his final two seasons at Iowa, posting 53 receptions for 670 yards and three touchdowns in 2021, followed by 58 receptions for 657 yards and one touchdown in 2022.
The Lions used the No. 34 overall pick to bring LaPorta in as the eventual replacement for fellow Iow product T.J. Hockenson, who was traded to the Minnesota Vikings halfway through the 2022 season. The starting role should be up for grabs during training camp and the preseason as LaPorta will compete with the likes of Brock Wright and James Mitchell, a duo who combined for 29 receptions in 2022.
