Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: TEs

This is the third in our series of roster analysis by position group for the 2026 offseason leading up to Free Agency and the NFL draft. Today’s focus will be on the TE room, which has the top two guys under contract for one more season, but lots of questions around their health. The position became a bit of a revolving door at the end of the 2025 season, so the Lions will be looking to add some stability and balance, even though they currently have four players under contract.

LaPorta and Wright (Yahoo Sports)

TEs

Under Contract:

• Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Zach Horton (Futures), Thomas Gordon (Futures)

Free Agents:

• Anthony Firsker (UFA), Shane Zylstra (UFA), Giovanni Ricci (UFA - PS)

Analysis:

The Lions actually have four TEs under contract, which is a normal amount for the regular season, but there are lots of questions. Both LaPorta (Back) and Wright (Trachea) ended the season on IR with a loose timeline for their full return at the start of camp. LaPorta is due a hefty raise assuming his back injury isn’t a long-term problem and should be the starting TE for the next 4-5 years. However, Wright in particular could be a cap casualty once he returns and is cleared, as he hasn’t lived up to his contract and a post-June 1st cut would net the Lions $3.4M in cap space to upgrade the position. Horton and Gordon look to be Practice Squad guys at this point, but it’s possible that Horton may end up being the No. 3 TE after spending a year in the system and being elevated for two games to play special teams. I don’t think any of the FAs would be back, but Zylstra would be the lone candidate, as he made the team as the third TE last year and was activated form IR in late December, but he has never stayed healthy for a full season in his four years with the Lions.

Options:

The most likely scenario is that the Lions will re-sign LaPorta to a 4-year, $17M APY contract to lock him down once his back is cleared. I believe that Brock Wright’s days may be numbered, as he hasn’t stayed healthy nor played up to the deal he signed with SF and the Lions matched. Therefore, they will likely go after a 1b TE in Free Agency to compliment LaPorta and then spend a draft pick in the middle rounds on someone that can develop in the system and eventually become the No 2 guy behind LaPorta.

• FAs: Isiah Likely (2nd TE), Cade Otton (2nd TE), Dallas Goedert (2nd TE), Daniel Bettinger (3rd TE), Shane Zylstra (3rd TE)

• Draft Pick: Eli Stowers (2nd), Max Klare (3rd), Joe Royer (4th), Oscar Delp (5th), Sam Roush (6th), Brett Norfleet (7th), Will Kacmarek (7th), Luke Hasz (UDFA), Jaleeel Skinner (UDFA)

Bottom Line:

I think the Lions will react to what the medicals are telling them, and if you see them in FA or the draft go after a TE aggressively, that either Wright, or more likely LaPorta, may be out for part of the 2026 season. However, based on the update on LaPorta at the end of the season, his surgery for a herniated disc was successful and his timeline puts him back on track for running by OTAs and unlimited pad work to start the season.

In the end, I think that Brad Holmes will add an experienced multi-faceted TE (who can catch and block) to upgrade the No. 2 TE in Free Agency with a 1b role in mind. Wright will be asked to take a pay cut or become a post-June 1st casualty, and Holmes will invest a mid or late round draft pick to the position for long-term stability.