Who Is Lions All-21st Century Team Tight End?

The Detroit Lions have had several tight ends who entered the league with high expectations as first-round picks in the last 25 years.

Since 2000, the Lions have drafted three players at the position in the first-round. In Brandon Pettigrew, Eric Ebron and T.J. Hockenson, the team has invested in a trio of players at the position. Yet, the best player at the position in the 21st century was not a first-round pick.

Sam LaPorta, the Lions' second-round pick in 2023, has had arguably the best start to a career of any tight end for the organization. He set the NFL record for receptions by a rookie tight end in 2023, and had 889 yards in his debut season.

Though his second season was less productive from a statistical standpoint, LaPorta has the best two-year start to a career. With other options lacking the longevity, LaPorta is the selection for the All-21st Century team ahead of the 2025 season.

LaPorta had 889 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns in his debut season, as he instantly became a big part of the Lions' passing attack. He also boosted the offense with his ability to block in the run game.

In 2024, LaPorta's target share went down, but he finished the year strong to notch 72 receiving yards in his second year. His success late in the year seems to indicate that he'll continue developing, and his decrease in target share is largely due to the emergence of Jameson Williams as a consistent downfield threat.