The Detroit Lions took care on piece of offseason contract extension business when they agreed to a new deal with linebacker Jack Campbell back in May. But of course there's more to come, with three others members of that fantastic 2023 draft class (Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch) in line for lucrative new deals.
It's a foregone conclusion the Lions will make Gibbs one of the highest-paid running backs in the league. The conversations are more nuanced when it comes to LaPorta and Branch, albeit with slightly more urgency due to both entering the final year of their rookie contracts.
LaPorta and Branch are both incredibly valuable, of course. But LaPorta's absence due to a back injury had a noticeable impact on the Lions' offense last season, and replacing him would not be easy.
On a recent addition of NFL Network's "The Insiders", after Dan Campbell's positive comments about his recovery from that back injury, Ian Rapoport talked about LaPorta.
"(LaPorta) is currently dealing with a back injury that cut short his season last year", Rapoport said. "Played in just nine games, still emerged, or continued to emerge, as one of the top young tight end weapons, dual threat tight ends, in the NFL."
Rapoport noted how Campbell's comments mean LaPorta is on track to be ready for the start of the season, and what that means beyond his availability to play.
"Due a contract extension, (which is) considered a priority for the Detroit Lions. (I) wouldn't be surprised if both LaPorta and Tucker Kraft of the Green Bay Packers reset the tight end market that is badly needing to be reset."
Rapoport added the possibility new deals for LaPorta and Kraft come before the season starts.
What would a "top of the market" contract look like for Sam LaPorta?
The current highest-paid tight end in the NFL is George Kittle of the San Franciso 49ers, at $19.1 million per year.
Right now just one other tight end, the Arizona Cardinals' Trey McBride at $19 million, is averaging more than $14 million per year on a multi-year deal this year. That's what Rapoport is referring to when he says the top of the tight end market needs to be reset badly. Overall, despite the increased value of the position, tight end has lagged behind a lot other positions when it comes time for guys to get paid.
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As long as the Lions are confident last year's back injury won't become a recurring issue, they will likely have no problem making the 25-year old LaPorta one of the highest-paid tight ends in the NFL.
Spotrac currently has LaPorta's market value at $18.4 million per year, on a projected four-year, $73.62 million deal. Of course that lands a little below the top of the market, and thus shy of what Rapport thinks could happen (presumably, with some level of information to foster his thoughts).
Would the Lions, to get ahead of whatever the Packers do regarding a contract extension for Kraft, offer LaPorta $19.2-$19.5 million per year and make him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL? It feels unlikely, but at the same time it is not out of the question, as priority continues to be placed on doing what it takes to keep core players around long-term.
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