It was only a matter of time before the rest of the world woke up and realized that a tight end coming from the Iowa Hawkeyes could bring instant plug-and-play talent to the NFL.
Being Iowa’s all-time receptions leader as a tight end doesn’t happen by accident. There’s something special when you surpass the likes of George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, and Noah Fant.
That is largely in part why Sam LaPorta is seeing his name climb NFL draft boards at a rapid rate. The Hawkeye tight end has the film out there and supplemented it with a great NFL combine and a strong Iowa Pro Day.
Due to the combination of all three, Sam LaPorta has found himself hearing his name called in the first round of CBS Sports’ newest mock draft. LaPorta isn’t mocked to just any team either. Instead, his projected landing spot from CBS is one of the most recognizable teams in all of sports globally, the Dallas Cowboys at pick No. 26 in the 2023 NFL draft.
Dalton Schultz played on the franchise tag a year ago and he’s now in Houston. Meanwhile, at tight end, the Cowboys have Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot and Sean McKeon, who combined for 32 receptions a season ago. Perhaps Dallas feels good about this group; Ferguson, a ’22 fourth-rounder, and Hendershot and McKeon, both undrafted free agents. But none were as athletic as Schultz … and that’s where LaPorta comes in.
The Iowa tight end is one of five players at the position who could end up being top 40 selections, and there was a lot of buzz around the league after his Pro Day that he could go much higher than conventional wisdom might suggest. His tape is impressive when you account for the fact that he was playing in an antiquated Iowa offense. – Wilson, CBS Sports
Over the last two seasons, Cowboys tight ends have accounted for 181 receptions, 1,827 yards, and 20 touchdowns. Their tight ends are a staple of the offense and one of Dak Prescott’s favorite targets in the middle of the field. Sam LaPorta is not just a fit for Dallas but could walk in the door and be a top target for them on day one.
Lukas Van Ness is also very high in this draft. The edge rusher is predicted to hear his name called by the Detroit Lions with the No. 6 pick in the draft.
The 2023 NFL draft is right around the corner with the first round set to get underway on Thursday, April 27, from Union Station in Kansas City, Mo. As LaPorta continues to generate buzz, here’s some of the latest reactions nationally to the Hawkeye tight end.