We knew contract talks between the Detroit Lions and tight end Sam LaPorta weren't in an ideal place. Then he appeared on the "Pardon My Take" podcast this past week, and lit the situation on fire with some frank comments.
There have of course been plenty of reactions to LaPorta's words, and overreactions to his subsequent, less than ideal failure to be in the locker room when reporters were present the day after the podcast posted. But his blunt frankness about his situation, which we don't get when it comes to players talking about contract matters, has to be appreciated.
In his weekly roundup of intel from around the league heading into Week 7, as easily expected in light of recent developments, Jonathan Jones of The Athletic had some notes about the situation with LaPorta and the Lions.
Fresh insight on Sam LaPorta contract extension has been hiding in plain sight
Jones tabbed it as "more likely than not" the two sides agree to an extension before LaPorta would hit free agency in March. Within recent history of some tougher contract negotiations the Lions have had lately (see Jahmyr Gibbs), Jones noted one that became an expensive lesson.
"Recent Lions negotiations have tended to take some time to come together. It happened with running back Jahmyr Gibbs and offensive tackle Penei Sewell. Famously, Aidan Hutchinson’s deal came in at $45 million per year when it might have been $10 million per year cheaper if it had gotten done one year earlier."
Hutchinson's broken leg in October of 2024 added a layer of complication to giving him an extension that would put him among the highest-paid edge rushers in the league. When it comes to making LaPorta one of the highest-paid tight ends, a similar thing could be said about the seemingly significant back injury that costed him the final eight games last season.
READ MORE: NFC North QB rankings, Week 7: Jared Goff sits alone at the top
Jones went on to add a notable looming layer in what has been a rising contract market for tight ends.
"The Raiders are unlikely to waste much time making Brock Bowers the highest-paid tight end in NFL history — maybe by a wide margin."
Brock Bowers is eligible for a contract extension after the season. The Raiders have their own potentially complicated situation there, based on how they deploy him like a wide receiver. But it's safe to assume they won't hesitate to make him the highest-paid tight end in the league at $20-plus million per year, as Jones noted.
"George Kittle sits at the top of the market at $19.1 million per year. A league source estimated Bowers could get into the mid-20s, in large part because the Raiders paid a center $27 million per year who a) had never played a down for the team and b) never made an All-Pro team. With Bowers eligible for his extension in a few months, waiting would not behoove the Lions."
It's hardly breaking news that waiting to sign a notable, worthy player to a contract extension only gets more expensive the longer a team waits. But with the top of the tight end market set to rise by $1 million per year (or a little more) fairly soon, the Lions' contract situation with LaPorta needs to get resolved sooner rather than later.
If it's going to get resolved, that is, and the team has the franchise tag in its pocket if need be.
Add us as a preferred source on Google