George Kittle knows about high level tight end play, and he has given some nice praise to Lions rookie Sam LaPorta.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have not exactly had an explosive offense. But Kirk Ferentz’s program in Iowa City has become something of a breeding ground for future NFL tight ends, from Dallas Clark to George Kittle to T.J. Hockenson to Noah Fant…there’s probably someone who’s been missed.
The next in the pipeline is Sam LaPorta, who was of course drafted 34th overall by the Detroit Lions in last month’s draft.
LaPorta has what seems to be a clear opportunity to be the Lions’ No. 1 tight end right away. It won’t be handed to him, of course, but pure talent level says the opportunity is there for him. The incumbents (Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra, James Mitchell) won’t necessarily stand in his way.
George Kittle praises fellow Iowa alum Sam LaPorta
Kittle is one of the best tight ends in the NFL, an all-around force as a receiver and a blocker. So he knows a little something about high-level tight end play, and what it takes to succeed in the league.
Scott Docterman covers Iowa football for The Athletic. He passed along some words from Kittle about LaPorta.
Former Iowa TE George Kittle on fellow former Iowa TE Sam LaPorta:
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) May 22, 2023
"Just watching him work out, the way he moves, he's got a great forward lean, great burst out of his breaks, great hands and he's eager, too. Sam's gonna be just fine. He's gonna make some big plays this year." pic.twitter.com/aM7Zvyz695
Alumni biased aside, and however it may color what Kittle said about LaPorta, it’s clear the Lions rookie has a lot of talent.
Via SI.com, Lions general manager Brad Holmes recently told SiriusXM how LaPorta was identified early in the draft process. A coaching staff with plenty of familiarity with playing tight end and coaching the position stands as notable when considering how LaPorta apparently stood out.
"LaPorta was another one that was identified early in the process. And to be able to add that element of big skill, but also be able to still do enough in the run game — here in this building, the tight end position, it’s held in high regard,” said Holmes. “So, it’s Dan (Campbell) and then we got in Steve Heiden, who’s a hell of a tight ends coach. And then Ben Johnson being a former tight ends coach, that’s not an easy test to pass.”"
LaPorta will have an opportunity to go against Lions’ veterans for the first time when OTAs get rolling this week. Kittle sees him being an immediate contributor, and the Lions’ offense clearly had a broadly untapped element from the tight end spot last year.