On the roster: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, James Mitchell, Shane Zylstra, Parker Hesse, Sean McKeon

Key losses: None

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Best competition: Third tight end role

The Lions kept three tight ends on the Week 1 roster last season and if that holds true again in 2024, there will be stiff competition for that last spot behind LaPorta and Wright.

Mitchell is headed into his third season after the Lions picked him up in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He played in 15 games last season and caught only two passes but was Detroit's top-graded pass blocker from the tight end position (Pro Football Focus) and was good in the run game too.

Zylstra missed all of last season after suffering a knee injury in training camp. He caught 14 passes, including four touchdown grabs, playing in 13 games in 2022. He was back this spring and made some nice catches in practice, especially during red zone periods.

Hesse played his first three seasons in Atlanta with the Falcons and McKeon the last four with Dallas. Both were more blocking tight ends than pass catchers and will compete with Zylstra and Mitchell for that last roster spot at the position.

Twentyman's take: LaPorta was so good as a rookie there's a ton of excitement for what he might be able to do in Year 2. His 86 receptions ranked fourth among NFL tight ends last season, his 889 yards ranked fifth and his 10 touchdown catches led the position.

He said this spring he's working on his suddenness and some route things he thinks can make him even better in his second season. He's built quite the rapport with quarterback Jared Goff and it wouldn't be surprising if he reaches the 100-reception mark this season.

Detroit made a big financial commitment to Wright, matching the three-year, $12 million offer sheet he signed with San Francisco this offseason. It was a good move by GM Brad Holmes because Wright is one of the glue players on this roster. He can play a number of different spots, he's terrific blocking in the run game, and he's more explosive in the pass game than he gets credit for. When given an opportunity, he's proven he can make big plays.

Anchored by LaPorta and Wright, it's an experienced and versatile tight end room in Detroit that offensive coordinator Ben Johnson leans on to play a lot of different roles in his offense.

By the numbers:

10: Games last year in which LaPorta caught at least five passes, the most by a rookie tight end in NFL history.

11: Touchdowns by Lions tight ends in 2023 were tied for the second most in the NFL with New Orleans behind only Baltimore's 12. LaPorta became the first tight end in Lions history to lead the league in touchdown catches at the position with 10.

11: LaPorta became only the 11th tight end in NFL history to produce a season with 80 receptions, 850 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

23: Detroit's 23 touchdowns caught by tight ends since the start of the 2022 season are second behind only Kansas City's 24. Lions tight ends have accounted for 167 receptions and 1,792 receiving yards the last two seasons combined.

64.1: The Lions utilize mismatches with their tight ends a lot in the red zone. Detroit's 64.1 red zone efficiency percentage was the third best in the NFL last season.

Quotable: "I know what it takes to compete and really thrive at this level. I've been there, I've done it and I know what it takes and we have guys around the building I can lean on that had success in the past," LaPorta said of his mindset entering Year 2.

"Amon-Ra St. Brown, 'Hey, how did you bounce back after a great year year after year?' Jared (Goff), (Penei) Sewell, Deck (Taylor Decker), Frank (Ragnow), go down the list. I have a lot of resources in the organization I can ask those types of questions to."