This is the fourth installment of a multi-part series previewing the 2026 NFL free agency period for the Detroit Lions. Teams and agents can legally begin negotiating contracts at noon Monday, March 9, and new contracts can be signed when the new league year begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 11. Today’s preview: Tight end.
More free agency previews: Quarterback, running back, wide receiver.
Tight end
Expected on the 90-man roster: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Zach Horton, Thomas Gordon
Pending free agents: Shane Zylstra, Anthony Firkser, Giovanni Ricci
Sam LaPorta was on track for a career season before a back injury compounded to an untenable point during Detroit’s win over the Washington Commanders last November, knocking him out for the remainder of the season. The Lions suffered in LaPorta’s absence, dropping five of their next eight games after winning six of their first nine. LaPorta has been one of the NFL’s most productive TEs since entering the league in 2023, ranking fifth and third at his position, respectively, in receiving yards (2,104) and touchdowns (20).
Entering the final year of his rookie deal, LaPorta is eligible for an extension. Most teams wouldn’t hesitate to make a long-term commitment, and the Lions might not think twice. But Detroit’s financial commitments elsewhere in conjunction with LaPorta’s back injury somewhat muddy the waters. How the Lions handle LaPorta (and Brian Branch, who can be extended but tore his Achilles in December) over the next six months is one of the offseason’s most fascinating discussions.
Currently behind LaPorta on the roster are Brock Wright, Zach Horton and Thomas Gordon. Wright has been the No. 2 option at TE in four of his five seasons in Detroit, with the 2022 campaign (when T.J. Hockenson was traded, forcing Wright into a larger role) being the exception. He’s been a steady presence, catching 75.3% of his career targets while reliably handling his blocking assignments.
Horton went undrafted in 2025 and remained with the Lions for the whole season, including a couple of temporary promotions to the active roster versus the Green Bay Packers (Week 13) and Chicago Bears (Week 18). Gordon, also undrafted in 2025, recently signed a futures deal in Detroit after spending parts of his rookie year with the Bears. His only action came during the preseason, though he was on Chicago’s roster during the playoffs.
Shane Zylstra has oscillated between Detroit’s active roster and practice squad since 2021. Anthony Firkser and Giovanni Ricci were midseason additions in 2025 who were brought in after LaPorta and Wright (trachea) suffered significant injuries. Firkser had 53 yards on eight catches over seven contests. Ricci did not have a catch in three appearances.
Best available free agents
Travis Kelce, David Njoku, Isaiah Likely, Dallas Goedert, Chig Okonkwo, Cade Otton
New Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing used 13 personnel more than anyone over his three seasons (2023-25) with the Arizona Cardinals. He’s since explained that had more to do with the players Arizona had available rather than some affinity for TEs, but he clearly found success by making the position a focal point; Trey McBride was an All-Pro in 2025. You’d have to think upgrading the depth behind LaPorta would be a natural priority this offseason.
How much of a priority is it, though? If it’s high on the to-do list, someone like David Njoku (Cleveland Browns) makes sense, as Petzing was his position coach for two years in Cleveland; Njoku caught 55 passes for 688 yards and six touchdowns from 2020-21. Njoku’s estimated market value is expensive (a little less than $10 million annually, according to Spotrac), but it could be worth it for someone who’s averaged about 450 yards a season over the last nine years.
Something to consider, however: Njoku is coming off a down season (293 yards), and he turns 30 in July.
Another player who overlapped with Petzing’s two-year stretch coaching TEs in Cleveland was Austin Hooper (New England Patriots), who is a free agent and had 263 receiving yards last season.
Dallas Goedert (Philadelphia Eagles), Cade Otton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Chig Okonkwo (Tennessee Titans) and Zach Ertz (Washington Commanders) are all free agents who had at least 500 receiving yards last season. Goedert, Otton and Okonkwo each have market values above $7.5 million.
Ertz, who was briefly on the Lions’ practice squad in January 2024, is only projected to receive $2.2 million, but he’s 35 years old and tore his ACL in December.
If the Lions hope to add more of a blocking type, Chris Manhertz (New York Giants) stands out as an affordable option, as do Foster Moreau (New Orleans Saints) and Adam Trautman (Denver Broncos). Each of their market values come in below $3 million.
Durham Smythe (Chicago Bears) helped the Bears have the NFL’s best rushing success rate last season (48.5%), according to Next Gen Stats. Of Smythe’s 334 snaps on offense, 60.2% came as a run blocker. That was a much higher rate than some of his teammates received, like Cole Kmet (34%) and Colston Loveland (37.2%). Smythe has a knack for run blocking, and the Bears leaned into it.
What’s the move?
LaPorta is obviously secure in his role, and it feels safe penciling in Wright, who is entering the final season of a three-year extension he inked in April 2024. Releasing Wright would only create $947,000 in cap space. That’s simply not enough savings to move on from a player who the coaching staff trusts.
That leaves at least one spot open for competition. Last year, the Lions signed Kenny Yeboah to a one-year contract worth about $1.3 million to battle with Zylstra, who started the season as TE3 behind LaPorta and Wright. Yeboah ended up getting hurt in training camp and being place on injured reserve. This year, we’ll predict the Lions dedicate a little more money at the position, opening the door for someone like Ertz, Hooper, Moreau, Trautman or Smythe.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Free agency preview: Exploring potential additions behind Sam LaPorta
Reporting by Richard Silva, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
