A year after trading a former Iowa tight end, the Lions have drafted one: Sam LaPorta, No. 34 overall.
LaPorta becomes the headliner in Detroit's tight ends room after the club traded former first-round pick T.J. Hockenson last season. He's an athletic pass-catcher with a soft set of hands and good run-after-catch ability.
Another weapon for Jared Goff in the Lions' high-powered offense, LaPorta should step in as a starter next season. Detroit's top receiving tight end is Brock Wright, who had 18 catches, followed by James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra. LaPorta had 111 catches for 1,327 yards over his final two seasons at Iowa.
However, his ceiling in the pros remains to be seen. Per NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein, LaPorta "appears to have average-starter potential at the next level." One pick after LaPorta, the Raiders traded up to take Notre Dame's Michael Mayer, who was widely considered the top tight end in this year's class.
LaPorta is the second straight Hawkeye to join the Lions after the club took linebacker Jack Campbell No. 18 overall on Thursday.
"I'm so excited to be teammates with Jack again," LaPorta said. "I kept getting asked during the combine process what teammate I'd want to bring with me to a new team and I kept saying Jack Campbell, Jack Campbell."
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