3 Detroit Lions training camp position battles that are already decided

2. Sam LaPorta the TE1 over Brock Wright

With a nod to his veteran status, Wright was listed as the Lions' No. 1 tight end on the aforementioned "unofficial" depth chart put out this week. But everyone knows LaPorta became the most talented tight end on the team the moment he was drafted in April. He showed that to be the case from the start at rookie minicamp and OTAS, with no let-up in training camp thus far.

LaPorta will have to be a competent complete tight end to be the most ideal fit for the Lions' offense, but there hasn't been much concern conveyed about his blocking to this point. And it's not as if his predecessor, T.J. Hockenson, was a devasting blocker over his last couple years on the team.

There is some overall rookie tight end production history for him to defy this year, but LaPorta will be just fine with a big role in the Lions' offense right away. If he doesn't have a big role right away, apart from an injury or a steep drop-off in his performance to cause it, it stands to be rooted in the Lions coaches actively leaning into Wright as a steady, unspectacular veteran--for an unexplained reason.

LaPorta has immediately taken his rightful place as the Lions' TE1. This was never going to be a genuine training camp battle as long as he did just that, and now it's officially over.