Sam Laporta

Pos: TE

School: Iowa

Ht. 6’3″ 

Wt. 245

Games Watched: Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa State

One Liner: Athletic tight end who wins with versatility, YAC ability, and route running

Strengths: 

  • Very good competitive toughness. Laporta plays with a ton of aggression and motor. He works hard to find blocking looks at the second level and plays with a willingness to win on every single snap. He brings great toughness to the field on all blocking downs, whether it be in line or in space.
  • Very good versatility. Laporta was lined up all over the field for the Hawkeyes. He played a lot of X receiver, and attracted double teams often with safety help. Laporta has the athletic ability and toughness to play as a full back flanking out from the backfield. 
  • Very good route running. Laporta is a fluid route runner for a player his size. He is able to run short routes with solid footwork and sharp cuts at the stem. He can run second level routes with smoothness as well, and can be relied upon to win and separate with craft at the next level
  • Good YAC ability. Laporta can win after the catch with good contact balance, solid speed and good athleticism. He absorbs contact well and can plow through defenders tackles with his toughness. 
  • Good athleticism. Laporta has good enough athleticism to win with smoothness and twitch as a route runner. His athleticism allows him to have required bursts and quickness to cut as a route runner and escape tackles after the catch.

Weaknesses:

  • Adequate functional strength. Laporta will struggle as an inline blocker because he currently lacks the functional strength to sustain blocks, despite his toughness and aggression. His lack of strength also comes to bite him in contested situations where shows a little bit of a struggle hauling in 50/50 passes in traffic.
  • Adequate blocking ability. Laporta lacks the technique and strength to be a reliable in line blocker. He fares better at blocking in space rather than in line, and will need to improve upon this to be a do-it-all weapon in the pros.

Overall Assessment: Sam Laporta is a versatile athletic tight end who will primarily win as a receiver at this point in his career. He brings the desired toughness and motor that coaches would love and has the potential to become a better blocker with time. Laporta is a fluid athlete that can win in space, with good to above average traits. He flashes great potential to be a YAC threat at the next level and looks like a he could be reliable receiving threat that can line up anywhere on the field for whatever team drafts him. He will have to improve as a blocker but Laporta looks like a reliable, high floor prospect that could help a team out as a receiver. 

Scheme Fit: Receiving tight end that projects best as a Y receiver until he adds more bulk and functional strength

Pick Projection: Top 60

Grade: 6.37