Tim Twentyman

Tight endSam LaPortahas made a tremendous impact for the Detroit Lions ever since the team drafted him in the second round (No. 34 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft.

LaPorta has the most catches (146), is tied for the second-most receiving touchdowns (17) and ranks fifth in receiving yards (1,615) by a tight end through two career seasons in NFL history. He is the only tight end in league history to log at least 600 receiving yards and at least six receiving touchdowns in each of their first two career seasons.

"He has a real natural feel in the pass game," new Lions tight ends coach Tyler Roehl said recently of LaPorta.

Roehl comes to Detroit after being the offensive coordinator, tight ends coach and fullbacks coach at North Dakota State from 2019-2023, and he most recently served as the assistant head coach and running backs coach at Iowa State last season. His background is in pro-style offenses, and he's made an impact everywhere he's been, particularly in the run game.

At North Dakota State, the Bison ranked among the top rushing offenses in the FCS, consistently leading the nation in rushing touchdowns and total yards on way to winning national titles in 2019 and 2021. He made an immediate impact last season at Iowa State, helping the Cyclones improve their rushing touchdowns from 16 in 2023 to 27 in 2024.

It's an area Roehl believes he can have an impact in Detroit's tight end room and particularly in LaPorta's game.

"Where can I continue to add value for him in the run game?," he said. "He's got the right mindset and intent. He has a really good foundation to build upon. There are small things in the run game I can help out with."

The Lions ask a lot from their tight ends and receivers in the run game as blockers. No. 2 tight endBrock Wrighthas been a block-first option in Detroit's offense over the last four seasons. Of his 583 offensive snaps last year, more than 500 came off-tackle or in the backfield.Kenny Yeboah, the veteran tight end the Lions signed in free agency to compete for the No. 3 tight end role, is a physical, block-first option at the position.

Of all the tight ends in the NFL who played at least eight games last year, LaPorta ranked 61st in run blocking and Wright was 79th, per Pro Football Focus statistics.

Both players can continue to develop and improve that part of their game, and the fact that Roehl is already talking about it before the pads are on means it will likely be a big focus for his room come training camp.

Roehl sees an opportunity for growth there, and the impact could be huge for a Lions' run game that already ranks among the league's best.

"Talk about no ego and about the team. High capacity to learn and an unbelievable work ethic," Roehl said of his first impressions of working with LaPorta this spring. "Our communication and the way he goes about his work, excited to continue to help add value to his game."