Amon-Ra St. Brown jump-starts 2025 hype train for key Lions' offensive weapon

The Detroit Lions have one of the deeper offenses in the NFL, and multiple different players are capable of taking over a game at any point.

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the top players the franchise features, and as a clear offensive leader, it makes sense he would have a grasp on what is going on with his teammates this offseason. That's why one of his early observations stands out as vitally important.

Already, St. Brown has been watching the performance of Detroit's weaponry during the offseason workout period, and he sees a big jump in the play of tight end Sam LaPorta. He singled LaPorta out as a player he is excited for this season.

"I feel like obviously, everyone knows what he did his rookie year. Last year, maybe he didn't get the amount of targets that he wanted. He doesn't have to say it, but I know how (Sam) LaPorta feels. I know what it's like when you're a dude and you feel like you can make more plays for the team and help the team win. Not taking anything from what he did last year, he's a baller, but I can tell this year he's making plays out there every day. I feel like he's gonna have a big year."

With 1,615 yards and 17 touchdowns to go with a Pro Bowl nod in 2023, it's clear LaPorta is already off to a great start in his career. Hearing St. Brown's admission that he is making plays regularly in practice should scare the opposition ahead of 2025.

Detroit Lions need a big season out of Sam LaPorta at tight end

The Lions enjoyed a solid 2024 season without the benefit of a completely consistent LaPorta, but that was a lucky development. Having a tight end that is dominant and targeted regularly helps make life easier for an offense.

In 2023, LaPorta looked like an evolving security blanket for Jared Goff as a rookie. He put up 889 yards and 10 touchdowns on 86 receptions, which were fantastic totals. Last year, he backed it up with 726 yards and seven touchdowns, but collected just 60 receptions. That was a sharp downturn in targets.

READ MORE: Terrion Arnold is seizing his path to a leadership role in Lions' secondary

Finding a way to get LaPorta more involved from the start will be a huge goal for new offensive coordinator John Morton. Using the threat of an elite run game to set up play action down the field with LaPorta figures to be a key tenant of Detroit's offense, and a way to make teams pay for trying to key in on the running backs.

If St. Brown is right and LaPorta has another huge statistical year, that will mean big things for the Detroit offense. It's easy to forget about LaPorta because he has been so consistent, but another breakout season would open plenty of eyes around the NFL.