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Many are focused on the Kansas City Chiefs’ glaring wide receiver issue, and reasonably so.
With Rashee Rice experiencing problems off the field, and the rest of the Chiefs’ WR core being mediocre at best, it would be in their best interest to sign a wideout like Stefon Diggs or Tyreek Hill.
Kansas City's tight end situation isn’t much better, though, as an aging Travis Kelce leads the franchise in that regard. As great as Kelce is, there’s no question he’s on the way out, making it pivotal to begin the process of finding a replacement for the future Hall of Famer.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay has the perfect hypothetical trade idea for the Chiefs, suggesting that the Chiefs could send a 2027 first and third-round pick to the Detroit Lions for a Pro Bowl TE (2023).
“Sam LaPorta may have lit the league on fire during a scintillating 86-catch, 889-yard, 10-touchdown rookie season a mere three years ago, but even he isn't safe from being traded,” Kay wrote Wednesday. “LaPorta is gearing up for the final year of his rookie deal, one set to pay him a modest $5.8 million in 2026.”
“Despite his immense contributions when healthy, the Lions have yet to reach a long-term extension with the tight end. The biggest issue surrounding LaPorta right now is health. Although he appeared in every game during his breakout rookie season and only missed one game during his somewhat underwhelming sophomore outing, LaPorta was sidelined for nearly half of 2025 with a back injury.”
“The Kansas City Chiefs make sense as a trade partner for the Lions. LaPorta would immediately slot in as Travis Kelce's much-needed heir, working alongside the aging tight end in 2026 and taking over as one of the primary receiving threats in Kansas City's dynamic offense once the future Hall of Famer hangs up his cleats.”
As Kay noted, LaPorta's 2025-26 season was cut short due to a back injury that later required surgery. The Iowa product finished the year with 40 receptions for 489 yards and three touchdowns in nine contests, which is respectable for a TE that was forced to miss eight of the Lions’ regular-season contests.
When healthy, LaPorta has shown he can be a reliable security blanket for Jared Goff due to his ability to smoothly get in and out of his breaks and strong hands. The 25-year-old is also an underrated blocker who isn’t afraid to lower his center of gravity and get physical with defenders.
If the Chiefs can find a way to bring LaPorta to Kansas City this summer, they shouldn’t drag their feet.
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