Rookie Scouting Profile: Sam LaPorta

FullTime Fantasy Rookie Scouting Profile: Sam LaPorta

Sam LaPorta (TE) Iowa

Height	Weight	40-Time	DOB	NFL Draft	Dynasty ADP	NFL Comp
6-3	245	4.59	01/12/2001	Day 2	3.10	Hayden Hurst

College Production

A three-star recruit out of Highland High School in Highland, Illinois as a two-way football star who also lettered in track and basketball, Sam LaPorta signed his letter of intent with the Iowa Hawkeyes just five days after his official visit. That put LaPorta in line to be the next great Iowa tight end and he delivered. LaPorta saw a part-time role in his first season but stood out as a blocker. In 2020, he saw a 21.5% target share and led the Hawkeyes with 27 grabs. As a junior, LaPorta led all Big 10 tight ends in catches (53) and yards (670). In final season, LaPorta again led Iowa in catches and yards and was named to the All-Big 10 first-team and was a John Mackey Award finalist despite being hampered by an abysmal Iowa passing attack.

The Dynasty Football World Championships Orphans are now on sale! Click HERE to enter the Orphans lobby and get teams up to 50% OFF!

Strengths

• High-volume and versatile tight end with experience blocking in-line, lined out wide (22% in 2022), and from the slot (30%).

• Solid after-the-catch runner who forced the second-most missed tackles (20) among FBS tight ends in 2022.

• Impressive measurables at the Combine, including an 85th percentile Speed Score (108.4), 91st percentile 40-yard dash (4.59), and 90th percentile Agility Score (11.16). Also boasted a 90th percentile broad jump of 123″.

• Has the speed and ball skills to be a problematic matchup for linebackers.

• Flashed very good route-running skills even playing in a moribund Iowa offense that averaged a paltry 156.7 passing yards per game in 2022.

Concerns

• LaPorta’s downfield ball skills are an incomplete due to the nature of Iowa’s stagnant offense.

• Willing blocker but needs to establish better leverage as an inline run blocker.

• Had six drops in 2022 and only corralled six of his 16 contested catch opportunities.

• C0uld struggle initially going from a limited, run-first role in college to a diverse NFL offense that features more complex reads and routes.

Fantasy Outlook

Iowa has developed into Tight End U and Sam LaPorta has some of the tools to continue that tradition in the NFL. While still a work in progress, he was capable of taking a large volume of targets and offers the athleticism to continue to blossom. So far, LaPorta has drawn interest from the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills.

LaPorta has more dynasty appeal than redraft value, which is common for rookie tight ends. He could take some time to develop into a consistent NFL option, so patience is in order. That makes LaPorta a solid target in the third round of rookie-only drafts.