Fox creates mock Sam LaPorta trade between Detroit Lions, Chiefs

Could the Detroit Lions move on from tight end Sam LaPorta?

Even after LaPorta's back surgery, it feels like a long shot. LaPorta is a young star that is established in the Motor City. But, the Lions have other young stars in Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell and Brian Branch that the organization figures to want to iron down long-term extensions with.

Might that mean that LaPorta is the odd man out?

In its look at a player every AFC team should trade for during the 2026 NFL draft, Fox suggests that the Kansas City Chiefs should deal for the Lions' LaPorta.

In its proposed trade, the Lions would swap first-round picks with the Chiefs, moving up from No. 17 to pick No. 9. The Chiefs would also send over a conditional 2027 fourth-round pick.

Yes, the Chiefs just re-signed Travis Kelce, who is still an effective player and one of Patrick Mahomes’ favorite receivers. But Kelce is 36, not what he once was, and could be in the last season of his Hall of Fame career. LaPorta is coming off back surgery, heading into the last year of his contract and may get squeezed out in Detroit, where the Lions have a lot of young players to sign. It would probably cost the Chiefs a second-round pick. As an alternative, they could consider a package that involves swapping first-rounders instead. - Ralph Vacchiano, Fox

LaPorta's 2023 season earned him a Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro nod as the 6-foot-3, 245-pound tight end hauled in 86 grabs for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Iowa alum's dominant rookie campaign established him as a young star and as a player that other franchises admired as well.

After a trio of Super Bowl championships steered by Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, would the Kansas City Chiefs think about dealing for a young tight end to pair with Mahomes into the back half of Mahomes' career?

The move would better position the Lions to land one of its top offensive tackle or EDGE targets in the 2026 NFL draft. This is not the first proposed trade of LaPorta from NFL media.

NFL.com's Eric Edholm also proposed a LaPorta trade that would land the Lions the Commanders' No. 7 overall selection, a 2027 third-round pick and tight end Bin Sinnott in exchange for Detroit's No. 17 overall pick and one of its two sixth-round selections (No. 205 overall).

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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Fox creates mock Sam LaPorta trade between Detroit Lions, Chiefs