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Daily DLP: Sam Laporta Contract Comp Update | Detroit Lions Podcast
Pitts sets the market Detroit must face
The Atlanta Falcons just changed the tight end economy. They signed Kyle Pitts to a three-year, $54 million extension with $36 million guaranteed. It is the richest three-year deal ever for an NFL tight end. That number immediately matters to the Detroit Lions and Sam LaPorta. Recent comps drive negotiations. The Detroit Lions Podcast digs into what this means.
By annual average value, George Kittle and McBride sit at the top tier. Pitts now lands at $16 million per year. The next band is where Detroit will hunt comps for LaPorta: Isaiah Likely at three years and $40 million with $26 million guaranteed, Mark Andrews at roughly $13.9 million per year, Dalton Schultz at $12.6 million, and Cole Kmet at $12.5 million. As much as Detroit likes LaPorta, he has been roughly in that neighborhood with Kmet. Will he take that number to stay in Detroit? Expect him to aim higher after the Pitts deal.
Usage and value in Detroit’s offense
Context matters. McBride earned heavy usage in Drew Petzing’s system in Arizona. That led many to assume a similar spike for LaPorta under Petzing in Detroit. It could happen, but the situations are different. McBride was the best player on that offense. In Detroit, LaPorta is not even the third-best offensive piece. Jahmyr Gibbs and Penei Sewell are central pillars. Jameson Williams offers higher peak plays even if the week-to-week is still building. That distribution of talent can cap volume and, in turn, price.
LaPorta brings real value beyond catches. His blocking stacks up well, better than Pitts in this discussion. Pitts also aligns outside as a receiver often, while LaPorta plays a more traditional tight end role. Those distinctions will surface in negotiations as both sides frame what they are paying for.
Numbers, guarantees, and timing
A practical floor sits around Likely’s deal: three years, $40 million, $26 million guaranteed. A target from the player side could be three years, $50 million with $35 million guaranteed. A logical counter from the team lands near three years, $48 million at $16 million per year. With the Lions, guarantees are the meat. Expect creative structure with void years to spread cap hits. That is how Detroit handles these mid-length veteran deals.
Health will guide the calendar. LaPorta is working back from the back injury that ended last season. He was on the field last week but not yet full go. The staff also wants Brian Branch healthy and contributing. If that holds, do not expect an immediate extension. Training camp will be the first checkpoint. A more natural window sits near the bye or toward the end of summer. September 21 feels like a soft boundary. By then, Detroit should know LaPorta’s role and output in Petzing’s offense.
The hard choice no one wants
One prevailing viewpoint around the league is that if Detroit must let someone walk among pending extension candidates, tight end is the easiest to replace. That argument has merit on roster-building grounds. Even so, the intent is to keep LaPorta. Pitts’ new deal just sharpened the pencil. Now the Lions must decide how far they will go to match it.
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