Upcoming draft offers plenty of tight end options for Detroit Lions in later round
Allen Park — When considering how an NFL team will approach the upcoming draft, you have to look beyond the immediate roster needs. Each selection should be viewed as a four-year investment. Therefore, we must weigh the bigger picture with each possible choice.
Heading into the 2026 NFL draft, we’re going to take a position-by-position look at Detroit’s roster, focusing on areas where the team might add talent in the event. Today, we’ll look at tight ends.
Current roster: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Tyler Conklin, Thomas Gordon, Zach Horton
Short-term need: 2/10
Long-term need: 8.5/10
Analysis: Following the addition of Conklin, Detroit is in excellent shape at tight end for the 2026 season. Obviously, there will be lingering questions about LaPorta’s health, at least until he can ease concerns about last season’s back surgery. However, the procedure to trim a herniated portion of a disc isn’t as serious as it might sound.
Fans should reasonably anticipate a full recovery, and all signs point to the team agreeing, with a stated goal to work out an extension with the 2023 second-round pick.
Beyond LaPorta, Wright and Conklin are a solid supporting cast. Both have extensive experience playing versatile roles. The newcomer should push the incumbent for snaps at the No. 2 tight end in 12 personnel, while opening the door for more 13 personnel usage under incoming coordinator Drew Petzing, who showed a predilection for those heavy formations in Arizona.
Long-term, Detroit doesn’t have a tight end under contract beyond this season. Clearly, an extension with LaPorta solves a lot of the problem, while the draft offers an opportunity to find a cheaper long-term pairing, and potentially even an upgrade to what Wright has brought to the table the past few seasons, particularly as a blocker.