Over the years, plenty of rookies have come on the grandest stage of all and lit up the league. The likes of Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Travis Kelce had all taken the league by storm in their very first season. However, rookie Sam LaPorta has been functioning on a whole new level in the first four games of this season.
With the Detroit Lions, the rookie TE has outperformed his counterparts by a country mile and is breaking one record after the other. His performances speak for themselves as he becomes an integral cog in the Lions’ offense this season.
Sam LaPorta rewrites history books
The 22-year-old produced yet another masterclass against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night, leading by example in a resounding 34-20 victory at Lambeau Field. In the process, he also broke a record that hadn’t been broken since the 1950s.
Against the Packers, LaPorta etched his name into the history books. Sam LaPorta has had an outstanding beginning to the 2023 season, with 22 receptions for 242 yards.
Among tight ends in the early stages of their careers, the only one with more receiving yards than him is Mike Ditka, who had 315 yards. As reported by ESPN Stats & Info, the tight end now holds the record for the most receptions by a tight end in their first four career games since at least 1950.
Rob Gronkowski envisions lucrative future for LaPorta
LaPorta’s skills have since been recognized by NFL legend Rob Gronkowski. Speaking on the Up & Adams show, the former TE waxed lyrical about the rookie’s performances. He said, “He can catch the ball really well. Like I said, he is definitely the steal of the draft. He’s got speed, and he’s just savvy out there.”
“The guy’s legit. He’s gonna be the highest paid tightend in about 4 years in the NFL.” – @RobGronkowski on #Lions Rookie, TE Sam LaPorta 👀
— Natalie Sparbeck (@NatSparbeck) September 28, 2023
📹: @UpAndAdamsShow pic.twitter.com/h1UUc7sahV
“What’s impressive about him is that he is just a rookie. The guy’s legit, and he’s gonna be the highest-paid tight end in about 4 years’ time in the NFL. He’s gonna be one of the best tight ends in the upcoming years in the NFL. He just has that footballing instinct.”
When asked about LaPorta’s specific skills that aid his performances, The Gronk said, “Just the way that he runs his routes, it’s very instinctive. That’s what you gotta be, and that is what makes a good football player. It’s like he goes out onto the field and doesn’t think. He just reacts.”
Clearly Sam Laporta seems have a brilliant career ahead if he continues to perform consistently on his top display. The young TE has already acquired high praises from NFL analysts and with Rob Gronkowski backing his talent, Laporta will be looking to uphold the best performances.
What are your thoughts on Sam Laporta’s future in the NFL? Share with us below.
