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Nobody saw tight end as a weak spot, but the Lions may be cooking up one more surprise as draft season heats up.
Why We’re Talking About It
The buzz coming out of Allen Park this offseason is all about the Lions’ next move in the NFL Draft. Most folks have their eyes glued to the defensive line, the secondary, and that never-ending search for a corner who can actually tackle. But tight end? Now there’s a curveball nobody saw coming. The so-called “surprising need” for a tight end has crept its way into Detroit’s draft discussions, and it has long-time fans squinting at the depth chart.
What gives? Just a year ago, Sam LaPorta made his rookie campaign look like child’s play, setting franchise records and becoming Jared Goff’s best security blanket not named Amon-Ra. The offense hummed along, scoring with style. So where’s this sudden panic about tight ends coming from? It’s got everything to do with depth, durability, and the way Ben Johnson builds his playbook.
LaPorta might be the guy, but after him, things get a little dicey. Brock Wright brings grit but lacks game-changing athleticism. James Mitchell flashes in practice, then disappears on Sunday. Injuries happen, and Lions fans know better than anyone what happens when the injury bug bites on a cold day at Ford Field. Lose your starter, and next thing you know, your fourth round pick is out there missing blocks in a must-win game.
Lions GM Brad Holmes doesn’t want to see that movie again. If you’re serious about hunting championships, you don’t leave yourself one twisted ankle away from disaster at a key position.
Why It Matters
Good tight ends aren’t just about catching passes. They block and make life easier for the running backs. They force defenses to respect the middle of the field. They’re glue guys, and in Ben Johnson’s system, they’re critical. The Lions’ rise last year wasn’t powered by one star—it was by depth, resilience, and a willingness to keep digging when their backs were against the wall.
If LaPorta goes down, does this offense still tick? That’s not a gamble Detroit should make. The teams that hoist Lombardis in February almost always have weapons behind their starters. Look at what San Francisco and Kansas City trot out every year: tight ends who can bail out their QB, keep the chains moving, and keep defenses guessing.
Drafting a tight end early might seem like a luxury for this smashmouth squad. But let’s be real, the “Same Old Lions” so many of us remember were always caught thin at spots that didn’t look like big needs until the wheels fell off. We’re done with that story. The “Brand New Lions” crowd wants no holes, no excuses.
Ignore the position, and the depth chart gets shaky in a hurry. That’s not something you can just hope fixes itself. You plan for it—in the war room, not on Sunday morning with your fingers crossed.
That Detroit Grit’s Take
Pardon my skepticism, but hearing “tight end as a draft need” after watching LaPorta break every rookie TE record makes my eye twitch. This feels a little like leaving work on Friday and realizing midway to Joe Louis Arena that you still left the gate unlocked—embarrassing and kind of important. Depth at tight end has hurt the Lions before, and if Ben Johnson’s playbook is going to stay spicy, we need more than one guy who can catch and block in space. There’s grit in this group, but grit alone won’t bail you out of an NFC title game if injuries hit. I don’t want to see our season end on a dropped seam route or a tight end missing a critical blitz pickup. Old wounds die hard around here. Draft another tight end and let’s keep the Ford Field faithful from groaning when LaPorta so much as limps. This is about insurance, not luxury. And Detroit knows you can never have enough insurance.
Our Final Thought
It’s easy to overlook tight end with all the flash elsewhere, but this franchise learned the hard way—over and over—that championships are built on depth. Brad Holmes knows it, Dan Campbell bleeds it, and Lions fans have lived it. Draft another tight end and let’s never look the way we did back in the “Same Old Lions” days.
Let’s Hear Your Take
Are we finally planning for every possibility, or is this just classic Lions overthinking? Should tight end really be a top draft priority? Let us know if you’re worried, confident, or somewhere in between. Drop your take below.
