The Detroit Lions have had an incredible regular season this year with many new players helping out in their massive turn around. They have been one of the best teams in the NFC behind Jared Goff and Dan Campbell. But on one of the most underrated stories and players in this NFL season has been breakout rookie star Sam Laporta.
Sam Laporta has had arguably the best rookie season at the tight end position in NFL history. He just tied Rob Gronkowski and Mike Ditka for touchdowns in a rookie year with 10. He now has the most catches for a rookie tight end in history and he has done it pretty quietly as there has not been a lot of coverage on this breakout star this year.
Detroit Lions’ Sam Laporta Has Best Rookie Season In NFL History
A long side star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, Laporta has been the best weapon for the high flying Lions team. What Laporta has been able to accomplish in his rookie year has been nothing short of remarkable, and it is even more special as many analysts thought the Lions pick would be bust. Laporta has destroyed that narrative quickly.
Head coach Dan Campbell raved about his star tight end comparing him to a legend at the position saying:
“I would say Shockey, and I love that man, but he never turned it off, on or off the field,” Campbell told The Detroit News. “That’s kind of who he was, how he lived and how he rolled. That’s what made him what he was, in his own regard. Sam is the other way. It’s much more about being more reserved, more low-key, but when it’s time to hit the field, he’s fully going.
The Jeremy Shocky comparison is a good one, but this rookie season Laporta has been having may out him in a different caliber even then Shocky. He is putting up numbers that only compare to the best to ever do it at the position, and if this is a sign of things to come, he will put himself up there with some of the best to ever do it.
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