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Sam LaPorta Is Better Than TJ Hockenson

Trey Daubert / NFL / January 6, 2024

Sam LaPorta Is Better Than TJ Hockenson

I stand by giving the Lions an F for their 2023 NFL Draft class. When you botch the first round as bad as they did, Detroit deserved an F. Picking a running back 12th is as dumb as it gets and Jack Campbell predictably is mediocre. However, the Lions absolutely deserve credit for one thing. Sam LaPorta is better than TJ Hockenson.

Two things can be true. Hockenson wasn’t a bad player but they made a horrible mistake drafting him. There was no world where Hockenson was ever going to be worth the 8th pick in the draft. Detroit finally realized that and moved off him for a second round pick from Minnesota.

It wasn’t a direct one-for-one trade. That’s worth mentioning. Minnesota’s second round pick was actually used in a trade down to take Hendon Hooker. We’ll see what Hooker turns into but it will probably be a move Minnesota is okay with making. LaPorta was picked with an Arizona pick in the second round.

In reality, the Lions got LaPorta because they weren’t dumb enough to take Gibbs with the 6th pick in the draft. Something they actually almost did.

Sam LaPorta 2023 NFL Draft Profile

LaPorta, 22, is going to turn into the better player. Despite it not being a direct trade, it also kinda was. The two will always will be compared given they both played for Iowa and LaPorta replaced Hockenson with Detroit. During his rookie season heading into the final week, LaPorta notched 81 receptions, 860 yards, and nine touchdowns. Hockenson had 367 yards his rookie season.

The Lions got LaPorta for a fraction of the price on a rookie contract. Hard to not chalk that up as a win. Hockenson is now hurt and isn’t exactly cheap. He’s also not nearly the blocker that LaPorta is.

Brad Holmes has screwed up a lot but he deserves some credit here. To essentially turn Hockenson into LaPorta without having to pay the freight of the contract was a smart move. No way around it.

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