Sam LaPorta Must Demonstrate Sure-Handedness during Rookie Season

Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta struggled at times with drops at Iowa.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta must demonstrate improved sure-handedness during his National Football League career. 

According to the Des Moines Register, "LaPorta did have a history of drops during his Iowa career, with an abysmal 14-to-5 drops-to-touchdowns career ratio. Part of the lack of touchdown passes was bad luck, a poor red-zone offense and quarterback play, yet he still let the Hawkeyes in receiving in 2021 and 2022. His lack of length (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) limits his ability to catch 50/50 balls, and he isn’t an overpowering blocker."

LaPorta dropped 10.2 percent of his targets in 2022 and 9.2 percent of passes thrown his way throughout his collegiate career, per Pro Football Focus. 

Despite struggles at times securing the football against solid defensive backs and in strongly contested situations, LaPorta's versatility and grittiness as a player have appealed to Detroit's coaching staff. 

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta :: © Bryon Houlgrave/The Register, Des Moines Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

“Really athletic guy. He can play a lot of different positions, he can align in a lot of different spots. He can do it in-line. I really like his urgency and willingness in the run game," said general manager Brad Holmes. "For the most part, he’s active with his hands, and he’s not the biggest guy. He’s not a 6’5’’, 250-pound guy, but he plays a lot bigger in-line than what you think. What really stands out is when he detaches from the core and the work that he can do on the perimeter, and he can beat a DB and he can catch contested and he can win a slant. 

"He’s got very good ball skills. He’s just got a gritty feel about him," Holmes continued. "Although he’s athletic and he can do all that stuff in the pass game and he can be a mismatch and all that stuff, but he still has a gritty finishing style, especially with the ball in his hands. He’s got run-after-the-catch (ability), so I think he’s going to be a guy that’s going to be a good addition.”

In 2022, LaPorta secured 58 receptions, 657 yards and one touchdown in 12 games for a Hawkeyes offense that struggled to move the football for the majority of the season.