If you only consider the statistics, you might have seen Sam LaPorta's second NFL season as a step back. LaPorta himself saw it as a step forward. He was a key cog in a historically good offense and a main contributor on a team that won 15 games.
That's not what LaPorta heard for most of this offseason -- and likely for part of last season, too. LaPorta heard instead about his diminished role as a pass-catcher that led to a dip in production a year after he set the NFL record for receptions by a rookie tight end.
LaPorta caught 60 passes for 726 yards and seven touchdowns last season, down from 86 catches for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns the year prior. Most notably, his targets fell from 120 to 83, about two fewer per game. LaPorta would point out that the Lions jumped to 33.2 points per game, about five more than the year prior and most in the NFL since the 2018 Chiefs.
Know who else got two fewer targets per game? Amon-Ra St. Brown. That's because Jameson Williams got 91, more than double what he saw in 2023, as the Lions fully integrated him on offense. The result was a 1,000-yard receiver who scored seven touchdowns and finished second in the league in yards per catch. Compared to 2023, the Lions were more efficient passing the ball, a tick more efficient rushing the ball, and altogether more efficient moving the ball.
And LaPorta played a big part in all of that.
Asked Thursday about his plusses and minuses from last season, LaPorta said, "I was very pleased with how my run game and the blocking came along in Year 2. I felt like I was still a very polished receiver in the pass game. There were a lot of weapons last year, so I kept hearing comments this offseason, 'Why didn’t you get the ball as much?' It’s like, 'Dude, we scored the most points of any team in the NFL in the last five years. Everybody deserves the ball.' And, I agree, I think I deserve the ball still, but I was very pleased with how I blocked in the run game."
LaPorta, 24, said that looking ahead to Year 3, his goals are to "continue to polish" his technique as both a blocker and a receiver, and "start to see the game from the quarterback’s perspective, what Jared (Goff) needs exactly, and maybe not just knowing what I’m doing on the field, but what other people are doing as well. Just seeing the big picture." He's eager to get going with new tight ends coach Tyler Roehl, who's cut from the same cloth as another tight end in Dan Campbell.
"Our first phone call he talked about gaining trust with us," LaPorta said. "I think he’s starting to do that. I love him so far. Very fiery, and we appreciate all of that."
LaPorta had chemistry with Goff from the moment he showed up as a rookie. He's a friendly target, as Goff like to say. That didn't change last year. Goff and LaPorta actually connected on a slightly higher rate of attempts, and averaged more yards per catch. Goff, again, just had more options at his disposal -- more mouths to feed. For LaPorta, inferior numbers came within a superior offense.
LaPorta's attitude toward all this is exactly why the Lions consider him a foundational piece, and another candidate for an extension in the years ahead. His input never wavers; don't be surprised if his output spikes again this season. LaPorta suffered a knee injury late in his rookie campaign and had ankle surgery last offseason, only to be hampered by another ankle injury in the early stages of last season.
His opportunities did increase as the season went on and his body found its groove. LaPorta averaged 2.8 targets for 2.3 catches, 37.3 yards and one touchdown over his first six games, compared to 6.6 targets for 4.6 catches, 50.2 yards and six touchdowns over his final 10. The latter basically mirrored his production as a rookie.
And after spending most of last offseason rehabbing, "this season I came out pretty healthy, which is great," LaPorta said. "I got to take some time off, just let my body relax for the first time since basically fall camp of my senior year at Iowa -- kinda a long stretch. Took a couple weeks to relax and then hopped back on the bike and started going again."
LaPorta will have a new coordinator calling the shots in year three, after thriving under Ben Johnson. There's no reason to think he won't be just as involved under John Morton, even if it doesn't look exactly the same. As LaPorta noted, "There might be different ways that Johnny wants to give me the ball, maybe other areas where we might step away from it."
"There's a relationship that needs to be built there as well," he said, "and we'll learn what each other needs."
What the Lions need from LaPorta is more of the same. Assuming he takes care of that, the numbers will take care of themselves.