The Clock Is Already Ticking At Tight End
We’re deep in the dead zone of the offseason, which means it’s time to stare into the abyss and think about all the ways this roster could blow up in our faces. Fun times.
Here’s something that jumped out while looking at the salary cap situation: the Lions don’t have a single tight end signed beyond 2026. Not one. That’s either a coincidence or the front office knows something we don’t.
Sam LaPorta’s Extension Is The Bellwether
Let’s start with the obvious one. Sam LaPorta is going to get paid at some point. The question is when, and that timing tells us everything about what the Lions really think of his back situation.
If they get a deal done this offseason, that’s Brad Holmes saying he’s confident the back issues are manageable. If they wait until next year and let him play out his contract? Well, that’s a different conversation entirely.
Because if they’re waiting to see how his back holds up over a full season, that means there’s genuine concern about long-term durability. And if that concern proves justified, suddenly the Lions are shopping for their next franchise tight end instead of extending the one they thought they had.
Everyone Else Is Gone Too
But here’s the kicker. Even if LaPorta gets his extension, the Lions still have to rebuild the entire depth chart. Tyler Conklin, Brock Wright, Zach Horton, Miles Kitselman, Thomas Gordon. All free agents after this coming season.
That’s not depth, that’s a full reset. The kind of roster turnover that usually happens when something went very wrong or when contracts were structured with this exact scenario in mind.
And you know what? I’m calling my shot right now. The Lions are drafting a tight end next year. Maybe not in the first round, but somewhere in that draft, they’re adding to the position. The math is too clean for it to be an accident.
Is this just smart roster management or are we staring down another position battle we didn’t see coming? Drop your predictions below.
