Detroit has one of the best young tight ends in the NFL in Sam LaPorta, who is entering his third season in 2025 after the Lions took him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Lions also have a reliable veteran returning in Brock Wright and have Shane Zylstra and Kenny Yeboah on the roster.
But consider this: Wright, Zylstra and Yeboah combined to catch 19 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns last season. LaPorta had 60 receptions for 726 yards and seven touchdowns.
Yeboah and Zylstra are on one-year contracts and both LaPorta and Wright will be free agents after the 2026 season.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes is never shy about adding young talent to an already talented room. The selection of running back Sione Vaki is a perfect example of that from last year. Building depth is what Holmes does, and this is a good tight end class to accomplish that.
Tight end class draft strength: Elite talent. This class has two prospects in Tyler Warren (Penn State) and Colston Loveland (Michigan), who are considered Top 10 prospects by a number of draft analysts. That's pretty rare. While Warren and Loveland are expected to be long gone by the time the Lions draft late in the first round, there are some Day 2 and Day 3 tight end prospects who could have an impact in a Lions' offense that is very tight-end friendly.
Lions tight end depth chart: LaPorta, Wright, Zylstra and Yeboah
View photos of the top tight end prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo (8) scores a touchdown in front of Florida A&M defensive back Deco Wilson (11) during the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo catches a pass during the school's NFL football pro day Monday, March 24, 2025, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (0) runs after completing a catch during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson (3) runs the ball against Ohio State during the second half in the quarterfinals of the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Texas tight end Gunnar Helm (85) catches a 19-yard touchdown pass ahead of Clemson cornerback Ashton Hampton (23) during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas tight end Gunnar Helm runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Michigan tight end Colston Loveland (18) reacts after scoring a touchdown against Michigan State in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Michigan tight end Colston Loveland (18) in action during an NCAA college football game between Indiana and Michigan in Bloomington, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor runs after a reception against Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Penn State tight end Tyler Warren (44) hurdles Maryland defensive back Kevis Thomas (25) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State tight end Tyler Warren (44) runs from Oregon defensive back Kobe Savage (5) during the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Lions tight end draft priority: Low. It's not a position the Lions have to come out of the draft with, but it is one of the few positions on the roster that doesn't have a lot of proven production after LaPorta and Wright. Yeboah is a more of a blocking tight end and Zylstra has 15 career receptions in 29 games. Adding a youngster to push for the No. 3 tight end role who has some versatility could be a play on Friday or Saturday of draft weekend.
Five tight ends who could fit the Lions:
1. Mason Taylor, LSU
6-5, 251. 4.65 40-yard dash
He's got great football genes as his father, Jason Taylor, is a Hall of Famer with 139.5 career sacks. He set an LSU record this past season for receptions in a season by a tight end (55) and added 546 yards and a couple touchdowns. He's a great athlete with a high ceiling.
2. Elijah Arroyo, Miami
6-5, 250. Did not run 40-yard dash
Arroyo had two injury-shortened seasons in 2022 and 2023 but broke out last year playing in 13 games and catching 35 passes for 590 yards (16.9 average) and seven touchdowns. The medicals will be important for him to make sure there's no long-term issues with the knee injury that cost him games in two different seasons.
3. Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
6-5, 247. 4.63 40-yard dash
Ferguson has a ton of experience and production but will have to prove he's more than just a receiving tight end if Detroit's going to be interested. The Lions expect their tight ends to be good blockers in the run game and that wasn't Ferguson's strength at Oregon. What he was good at, however, was setting the school record for receptions (134) and receiving touchdowns (16) at the position. He was 20 yards shy of the school record in career receiving yards for the position.
View photos of the top cornerback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Mississippi cornerback Trey Amos (9) follows a play against Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Mississippi defensive back Trey Amos runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron (7) celebrates after making a big tackle against Arkansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kentucky defensive back Maxwell Hairston (31) celebrates after returning an interception for a touchdown against Vanderbilt in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Kentucky defensive back Maxwell Hairston (1) attempts to tackle Texas wide receiver Ryan Wingo (5) after a catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) runs for a first down during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) takes part in passing drills during Colorado's NFL football pro day Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
North Carolina's Alijah Huzzie (28) covers on defense during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
The bench celebrates as North Carolina defensive back Alijah Huzzie (28) evades the last Georgia Tech defender as he runs a punt back for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Michigan defensive back Will Johnson (2) plays during the NCAA college football team's spring game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Michigan defensive back Will Johnson (2) plays against Southern California in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Notre Dame defensive back Benjamin Morrison (20) celebrates while wearing a Play Like a Champion Today backplate during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Louisville Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)
Notre Dame defensive back Benjamin Morrison (20) celebrates an interception that was called back due to a flag during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)
Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish (10) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kansas State defensive back Jacob Parrish runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa State defensive back Darien Porter (10) gets set for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa State won 20-19. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa State defensive back Darien Porter runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
East Carolina defensive back Shavon Revel Jr. speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Louisville defensive back Quincy Riley (3) plays against Clemson during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Louisville defensive back Quincy Riley runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas (20) sets up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
California's Nohl Williams (3) runs with the ball after an interception during the first half of an NCAA football game against Auburn on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
California defensive back Nohl Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
4. Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
6-3, 241. 4.71 40-yard dash
The first tight end in conference history to win the MAC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year after leading the FBS with 117 receptions and 1,555 receiving yards (both single season records for a tight end). He also led the Falcons with 10 receiving touchdowns. Fannin recorded over 200 receiving yards in Bowling Green's bowl game. When the ball comes his way, he makes the catch.
5. Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame
6-5, 258. 4.74 40-yard dash
Evans suffered a torn ACL in 2023 but came back strong last season, leading the Irish with 43 receptions. He's got a big frame and is a willing blocker in the run game, which the Lions should like about his game. He can play on and off the line and has the potential to be a really solid complement to LaPorta and Wright.
