Tim Twentyman

Detroit has one of the best young tight ends in the NFL inSam 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 inBrock Wrightand haveShane ZylstraandKenny Yeboahon 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 backSione Vakiis 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

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.

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.