Rob Gronkowski: Sam LaPorta Is Going to Be Highest-Paid NFL Tight End

Rob Gronkowski praises Sam LaPorta.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta has caught the attention of one of the game's great tight ends. 

Appearing on the "Up and Adams Show," former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski had very high praise for Detroit's 2023 second-round draft pick. 

"Just his instinct for the game, the instinct to be able to catch the ball. He can catch the ball on the run very, very well," Gronkowski said. "Like I said a little bit earlier that he is definitely the steal of the draft. He's got speed and he's just savvy out there. He's a savvy guy. And what's impressive is, he's only a rookie. I think he has beaten, if I'm correct, he has beaten the tight end record for most amount of catches in the first three games of a season for a rookie. I think he has 18 catches already. I mean, the guy is legit. He's going to be the highest-paid tight end in about four years in the NFL and he  is going to be one of the best tight ends in the upcoming years in the NFL. He's just super, super savvy. He just has that football instinct."

After host Kay Adams showed the multi-time Super Bowl winning tight end highlights of his game against the Falcons, Gronkowski explained what he saw that made him praise LaPorta so early in his career. 

Related: Lions-Packers Key Matchup Is Sam LaPorta vs. Quay Walker 

"Just the way that he runs his routes. He's just very instinctive," Gronkowski said. "That's what you got to be. That's what makes a good football player. It's like he goes out in the field and he doesn't think. He just reacts, you know? And obviously you've got to be a smart player, because he clearly knows the playbook inside and out, to be able to be a rookie and just go out there in your first game and have five catches just like that.

"And then increase the amount of catches per game, week in and week out throughout your first three weeks. So he's a good player," Gronkowski explained further. "He was a second-rounder, 34th pick overall. I think he should have probably been the first tight end taken in the draft. Jared Goff is just going to keep feeding him."

“The guy’s legit. He’s gonna be the highest paid tightend in about 4 years in the NFL.” - @RobGronkowski on #Lions Rookie, TE Sam LaPorta 👀

📹: @UpAndAdamsShow pic.twitter.com/h1UUc7sahV

— Natalie Sparbeck (@NatSparbeck) September 28, 2023