NFL.com projects 'win-win' Sam LaPorta trade for Detroit Lions

Could the Detroit Lions swing a blockbuster?

NFL.com's Eric Edholm put together five "win-win" trades that teams should make in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft. The Lions were at the forefront of Edholm's projected first-round NFL draft trades.

Edholm projected a trade where the Lions would send star tight end Sam LaPorta to the Washington Commanders. As part of the trade, the Lions would deal away their first-round pick (No. 17 overall) and one of their two sixth-round picks (No. 205 overall) in exchange for the Commanders' No. 7 overall selection, a 2027 third-round pick and tight end Bin Sinnott.

Here's what Edholm wrote about the proposed trade:

First off, I don't think LaPorta will be traded. But it wouldn't totally floor me if he was. LaPorta has been great, and losing him hurts Detroit's offense, but the big picture must be considered: LaPorta is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is coming off back surgery.

George Kittle and Trey McBride reset the TE market last offseason with extensions that pay them each $19 million-plus per year, and that's before any extension has been struck for Atlanta's Kyle Pitts. Can the Lions afford to pay LaPorta close to that level? Remember, they also must pay RB Jahmyr Gibbs (two years left on his rookie contract, including a fifth-year option), LB Jack Campbell (on the same timeline as Gibbs) and S Brian Branch (one year left).

Branch is recovering from an Achilles tear, which eliminates him as a trade candidate, and they have an extra year to get extensions done with Gibbs and Campbell. That means we can assume LaPorta is the most likely of the four to be dealt, remote as those chances might be. Sending Sinnott to the Lions softens the blow just a tad, as he remains a relative unknown, albeit an intriguing one to me.

It's not hard to imagine why the Commanders would want LaPorta, especially with David Blough (who was on Detroit's practice squad LaPorta's rookie season) calling plays. Washington should still find a receiver or defensive help readily at No. 17.

Why would Detroit move up to seven? I suspect to acquire a foundational left tackle. That position is their biggest remaining worry, and their guy might not last until 17. It would be a big risk, but a potentially smart one financially and football-wise, and Brad Holmes has never shied away from making waves in Round 1.

Edholm makes some good points. The financial difficult of trying to ink LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell and Brian Branch all to long-term deals is a real one.

The David Blough connection could also be enough to sway Commanders brass on bringing the young standout tight end LaPorta in. Washington could look at this deal and think that it's a cheap asking price for a 25-year-old Pro Bowler.

Meanwhile, the Lions would free up some cash to keep its other stars and eliminate any lingering fears from LaPorta's back surgery.

And, of course, this move would go a long way toward allowing the Lions to draft a potential franchise offensive tackle that it likes.

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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: NFL.com projects 'win-win' Sam LaPorta trade for Detroit Lions