Sam LaPorta emerged as one of the NFL’s finest rookies last season, and as the league enters 2024, higher-ups believe he is already among the best at his position. According to an ESPN survey of NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, LaPorta is the league’s fourth-best tight end. The only players ranked higher than the 23-year-old are Mark Andrews (Baltimore Ravens), George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers), and Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs), who have 17 Pro Bowl appearances and seven All-Pro honors in 24 combined seasons.
The high praise for LaPorta isn’t without merit.
LaPorta set rookie records for receptions (86) and touchdowns (10) by a tight end, and his 889 yards were the third-highest ever, trailing only Jeremy Shockley (894 yards, 2002) and Kyle Pitts (1,026 yards, 2021). However, LaPorta’s output was among the best by a first-year player on offense, regardless of position.
In terms of yards, receptions, and touchdowns, no one player in NFL history had a greater rookie season. Odell Beckham Jr. was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2014 after racking up 1,305 yards, 91 receptions, and 12 touchdowns. For LaPorta, the sky seemed to be the limit. And, while such high expectations sometimes weigh on a young player, the Lions’ star tight end is convinced that won’t happen, noting his last season’s experience and advice from his veteran colleagues. “I’ve been there, done that, and I know what it takes,” LaPorta said on the Lions’ website in June. “And we have guys around the building I can really lean on that have had success in the past.”
