Sam LaPorta Headed to Lions

Detroit Tabs Iowa Hawkeye TE in 2nd Round of NFL Draft

Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta runs after a catch against Purdue on Nov. 5, 2022 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. (Rob Howe/HawkeyeNation.com)

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Detroit Lions selected Iowa's Sam LaPorta in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday, the 32nd pick overall. The Illinois native became the sixth Hawkeye tight end chosen since 2010 and the 12th player at the position picked this century. 

Detroit took LaPorta 14 picks behind Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell, who they chose Thursday night. Former Hawkeye Matt Nelson has played 40 games for the Lions during the last three seasons. 

LaPorta (6-3, 245) performed well at the scouting combine during February, his RAS score of 9.26 ranked sixth among tight end prospects in this draft. Adding that to his on-field production, he was projected to be picked in the top four rounds this weekend. 

As a true senior in '22, Laporta was named the team's offensive MVP after leading it in catches (58) and receiving yards (657) for a second consecutive season. He finished college 14th at Iowa in career receiving yards (1,786) yards on 153 receptions, ranking first among players at his position in catches and second in yards. 

LaPorta mostly lined up at receiver at Highland (IL) High. He ranked as a three-star recruit in the 247Sports composite as a member of the '19 recruiting class. He was rated as the No. 55 tight end in the country for that cycle. 

Iowa needed him to play as a true freshman after losing tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant in the first round of the draft that year. He caught his first pass during Game 8 at Northwestern that season, finishing the campaign with 15 catches for 188 yards, including six grabs for 44 yards in a win against USC in the Holiday Bowl. 

LaPorta was named honorable mention all-Big Ten in '20 after leading the team with 27 receptions and ranking second in receiving yards (271) during a season limited to eight games due to the pandemic. He earned second-team all-conference honors as a junior and then was the league's tight end of the year for '22. 

Twice a member of the Iowa Dean's List, LaPorta was named a team captain as a senior.