What draft pick was Sam Laporta?

Sam LaPorta plays in the National Football League (NFL) as a tight end for the Detroit Lions. He had a stellar rookie campaign in the 2023 NFL season. The Lions’ second-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft has fit in seamlessly with the Lions’ offense leading to a surprising year in which the Lions won the NFC North with a 12-5 record. His contribution just in his first year of the game has famous former players such as Rob Gronkowski suggesting that LaPorta will be one of the finest tight ends in the game in the near future. Born in Highland, Illinois on January 12, 2001, the youngster took to American football at the age of 10. He comes from a family that has a good association with sports and athletics.

LaPorta was not always a tight end. He started playing the game as a wide receiver on the offensive side of the ball and even played as a defensive back as part of the defense. However, when he joined the University of Iowa, he switched over to the tight end position. Interestingly, the Iowa Hawkeyes football team is well known for developing top-quality tight ends who go on to make a name for themselves in the NFL.

Also Read: What is Sam LaPorta's 40 time?

Sam LaPorta Draft

Sam Laporta was selected with the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Of the 15 tight ends that were selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Sam LaPorta was the second one to come off the board only behind Dalton Kincaid who was selected with the 25th overall pick by the Buffalo Bills. Other players who have done well this year from the 2023 class are number two overall, quarterback - C.J. Stroud, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, wide receivers Puka Nacua, Jordan Addison, Zay Flowers, and more.

He made an immediate impact in his rookie season, becoming the first tight end to record at least five receptions in each of his first three games, amassing 18 catches in that span. LaPorta continued breaking records, including the Lions' franchise marks for rookie tight ends in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. By Week 13, he had set a new single-game record for receiving yards by a Lions rookie tight end with 140 yards.

LaPorta's standout performances earned him a Pro Bowl selection, Second-team All-Pro honors, and finalist spots for the Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year awards. He finished his rookie season with 86 receptions, 889 yards, and 10 touchdowns, breaking several Lions records for tight ends.

Sam LaPorta College

The Illinois native spent four years at the University of Iowa playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes. As a freshman, he was the third-string tight end and thus received limited game time despite featuring in 12 games. In 2020, his sophomore year, LaPorta played in only eight games where he split the duties with another tight end.

However, it was in his junior and senior years that he got more playing time as he became the starting tight end. His production increased and he was able to display his abilities more consistently with this upgrade. His overall performance on the field combined with a good performance at the NFL Combine made him one of the better tight end prospects before the draft.