Twitter ignites as Detroit Lions draft Iowa TE Sam LaPorta
It was only a matter of time before Sam LaPorta came off the board in the 2023 NFL draft. He joins Lukas Van Ness and Jack Campbell as Hawkeyes that have been drafted. Another one of the Iowa Hawkeyes’ premier tight ends, he will continue on the ‘Tight End U’ legacy as it adds another chapter to an already decorated history.
Sam LaPorta was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the No. 34 pick overall in the second round. LaPorta fills a gap left by former Hawkeye tight end T.J. Hockenson and is in line to be a day one starter upon his arrival in the music city. Not only that, LaPorta joins fellow Hawkey draftee Jack Campbell as the newest Detroit Lions.
It did not take long for social media to share their reactions as LaPorta heard his name called. Iowa fans, NFL fans, and many others reacted to the tight end being another Hawkeye drafted this year and continuing Iowa’s tradition of producing great NFL talent.
Here are some of the reactions to Sam LaPorta being drafted by the Detroit Lions.
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It's official!
Welcome to the Pride, @Samlaporta‼️
📺: #NFLDraft 4/28 & 4/29 on NFLN, ABC & ESPN pic.twitter.com/dkeLOFcP58
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 28, 2023
The pick is in
With the No. 34 overall pick in the 2023 @NFLDraft, the @Lions select Sam LaPorta!
📺: 2023 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/D3EqkrKdIw pic.twitter.com/PH8RIWy2S7— NFL (@NFL) April 28, 2023
Tight End U continues
Round: 2 | Pick: 34@Samlaporta ➡️ @Lions#NFLHawks x #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/rE8YeaFfzN
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) April 28, 2023
A highly touted player off the board
Lions take Iowa TE Sam LaPorta at pick No. 34. A Cowboys' target for sure. Team liked his overall style in-line and displaced.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) April 28, 2023
Motor City's newest addition
Detroit, meet your new tight end.
The @lions select @HawkeyeFootball TE Sam LaPorta at No. 34 overall.
pic.twitter.com/U2zUzSr9ol— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) April 28, 2023
The highlight reel
Hey @Lions fans, you're going to want to check out @HawkeyeFootball's @Samlaporta's top 🖐️ favorite plays. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/ZWy34h6qC2
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) April 28, 2023
Surprise? Or just that good?
I am a tad surprised to see Sam LaPorta gone before Michael Mayer and Darnell Washington.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 28, 2023
Iowa City to Motor City pipeline
SAM LAPORTA IS A DETROIT LION!
LaPorta is the Lions’ first pick in the 2nd round of the draft. Make that two Hawks drafted to Detroit this weekend.
— Barstool Iowa (@BarstoolUIowa) April 28, 2023
He's legit
Sam LaPorta is serious. To be a skill position player and emerge from a college career full of Ferentz and then be a top-35 pick means you're GOOD good
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) April 28, 2023
Kirk knew all along
Kirk Ferentz said this in a morning session to talk about LB Jack Campbell: "…but my suspicion was a smart team might jump there into the first round and grab (Campbell). I felt the same way about our tight end Sam LaPorta, a very similar type of player."
— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) April 28, 2023
TE1
Welp.
Cowboys aren't alone in their love for Sam LaPorta. Didn't come close to sliding to 58, as he's now a possible TE1 in Detroit.
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) April 28, 2023
Look at Iowa
The Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2023 NFL Draft:
Lukas Van Ness – No. 13, GB
Jack Campbell – No. 18, DET
Sam LaPorta – No. 34, DETIowa has three draft selections in the first 36 picks of the NFL Draft.
It's tied for the most from any school, along with Ohio State (3) and Alabama (3).
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) April 28, 2023
Matchup nightmare
There’s a reason Sam LaPorta was the 2nd tight end off the board in a stacked class
He’s got big time playmaking ability. Matchup nightmare pic.twitter.com/Yrfmo5ImaV
— Blake Hornstein (@BlakeHornTV) April 28, 2023
The NFL starts here
That's four draft picks from Iowa. That place produces so many pros. Sam LaPorta is the 12th Iowa tight end drafted since 2000.
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) April 29, 2023
CBS loves Sam
CBS Sports gives the Lions an A for drafting Iowa TE Sam LaPorta at No. 34
They also gave the Lions an A+ for drafting Iowa LB Jack Campbell at No. 18
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) April 28, 2023
And the Matthew Stafford trade is complete!
The Matthew Stafford trade is now complete.
Rams got: Matthew Stafford
Lions got: Jared Goff, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Jameson Williams, Josh Paschal, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) April 28, 2023
And so it is
Sam LaPorta said he kept getting asked by teams through the process what teammate he'd like to bring with him to the next level:
"Jack Campbell. Jack Campbell. Jack Campbell."
— Ben Raven (@BenjaminSRaven) April 28, 2023
Buckle up
Can't wait to hear all the 'experts' simply read Sam LaPorta's stats instead of taking time to actually look at the tape before blabbering some ill-informed opinion on LaPorta going 34 overall.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) April 28, 2023
Hold up
So hold up… we got:
Jahmyr Gibbs (stud)
Jack Campbell (stud)
Sam LaPorta (Kittle 2.0)
Brian Branch (stud)
Hendon Hooker (stud backup) pic.twitter.com/Yi7PhpKWyq— ًًً (@GibbsWrld) April 29, 2023
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