Player
Sam LaPorta
TE
LaPorta's arc shows the compressing effect of Detroit's evolving offense: his role has narrowed even as his efficiency per target held. His trajectory at age 24 still leaves elite upside on the table.
Three-year career: a record-setting rookie year (2023), a regression in 2024, and an injury-shortened 2025.
TrendLaPorta regular-season production by year
| Year | G | Rec | Yds | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 (rookie) | 17 | 86 | 889 | 10 |
| 2024 | 16 | 60 | 726 | 7 |
| 2025 | 9 | 40 | 489 | 3 |
Receiving yards by year
| Season | Yards |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 889 |
| 2024 | 726 |
| 2025 | 489 |
Why it matters. LaPorta's arc shows the compressing effect of Detroit's evolving offense: his role has narrowed even as his efficiency per target held. His trajectory at age 24 still leaves elite upside on the table.
His 86 rookie-year catches set the all-time NFL rookie TE record — broke Tony Gonzalez's mark from 1997.
RareMost receptions by a rookie TE (all-time)
| Player | Year | Rec |
|---|---|---|
| Sam LaPorta | 2023 | 86 |
| Tony Gonzalez | 1997 | 33 |
| Brock Bowers | 2024 | 112 |
| Mike Ditka | 1961 | 56 |
Why it matters. LaPorta held the rookie TE reception record for exactly one year before Bowers shattered it — a rare instance where a historic benchmark fell in back-to-back drafts.
Career line: 186 catches, 2,104 yards, 20 TDs in 42 games. The TD rate (10.8%) is among the highest in TE history.
SplitCareer regular-season totals through 2025
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Games | 42 |
| Receptions | 186 |
| Receiving Yards | 2,104 |
| Receiving TDs | 20 |
| TD/Rec | 10.8% |
Why it matters. A 10.8% TD rate means LaPorta finds the end zone on roughly one in nine catches — elite efficiency that reflects Detroit's red-zone scheming around him despite his declining volume.
His 2023 10-TD rookie year was the most by any rookie TE since Gronkowski in 2010. Only two players have done it in the Super Bowl era.
ComparisonRookie TEs with 10+ TDs (all-time, DB era 1999+)
| Player | Year | TDs |
|---|---|---|
| Sam LaPorta | 2023 | 10 |
| Rob Gronkowski | 2010 | 10 |
| Brock Bowers | 2024 | 5 |
Why it matters. Reaching double-digit TDs as a rookie TE places LaPorta in a two-player club going back 25 years, suggesting rare red-zone instincts at the start of a career.
His 2024-25 production has steadily declined — not because of skill, but because the Lions added Jameson Williams and a more spread offensive role.
AnomalyLaPorta target share by year
| Year | Tgts | Avg Tgt Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 120 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 83 | 17.5% |
| 2025 (9G) | 49 | 18.5% |
Why it matters. LaPorta's declining volume is scheme-driven, not skill-driven — his per-target efficiency remained stable even as the Lions redistributed targets to a wider receiver corps around him.
He's been to the playoffs in all 3 of his NFL seasons. Caught a TD in the 2023 Wild Card win over the LA Rams.
MilestoneLaPorta playoff appearances
| Year | Furthest Round |
|---|---|
| 2023 | NFC Championship (loss) |
| 2024 | Divisional (loss) |
| 2025 | Missed playoffs |
Why it matters. LaPorta arrived as Detroit finally ended a 32-year playoff win drought, making him a centerpiece of one of the most celebrated franchise turnarounds in recent memory.
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