Sam LaPorta and the Detroit Lions have paused contract negotiations during the 2024 NFL season, according to ESPN. The tight end and the team agreed to halt talks after a weekend of discussions so LaPorta could concentrate on football.
LaPorta, 25, is in the final year of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent after the season unless the Lions manage to sign him to a long-term extension. If an agreement isn’t reached before then, Detroit could apply the franchise tag to retain him.
The Lions’ general manager, Brad Holmes, expressed a clear desire to secure LaPorta on a new deal during the offseason, echoing his approach with other top draft picks from 2021 to 2023. Holmes has already locked down several young stars, including 2023 picks Jack Campbell, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Brian Branch, although Branch is currently on the physically unable to perform list recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.
LaPorta’s career has been marked by strong rookie numbers followed by injury challenges. Drafted in the second round out of Iowa in 2023, he set a rookie tight end record with 86 catches for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. His numbers have declined since then, with 60 catches for 726 yards in 2024 and 40 catches for 489 yards in a season cut short by back surgery the previous year.
The tight end market has shifted significantly in the past year. Tucker Kraft signed a four-year extension before the start of this season, making him the third-highest-paid tight end at $18.75 million per year. Kyle Pitts and Michael Mayer also secured contracts worth at least $15 million annually.
Despite the dip in production, LaPorta has made a strong start to the current campaign, recording 14 catches for 144 yards during the Lions’ 2-1 start. The team has shown a willingness to sign promising players to new midseason deals, having done so with Aidan Hutchinson last year and Alim McNeill earlier this year.
The pause in talks comes amid a crowded contract calendar for the Lions’ front office, which continues to manage negotiations for multiple young talents. Holmes’ track record suggests the team will revisit LaPorta’s situation once the player is ready to focus again on extension discussions.
LaPorta’s back surgery last season ended his campaign after nine games, and his health will likely factor into future negotiations. Meanwhile, the Lions have not announced any new developments on LaPorta’s contract status since the weekend talks were paused.
According to Yahoo Sports.
