Fox Proposes Chiefs-Lions Trade Involving Sam LaPorta

The mock deal would send the Pro Bowl tight end from Detroit to Kansas City.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 8:20pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric planes in the official team colors of the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs, conceptually representing a potential trade involving star tight end Sam LaPorta.A conceptual illustration depicting the potential trade of star tight end Sam LaPorta from the Detroit Lions to the Kansas City Chiefs, breaking down the action into a cubist-inspired geometric composition.Kansas City Today

Fox Sports has proposed a hypothetical trade that would send Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta to the Kansas City Chiefs. In the mock deal, the Lions would swap first-round picks with the Chiefs, moving up from No. 17 to No. 9, and the Chiefs would also send over a conditional 2027 fourth-round pick.

Why it matters

LaPorta is coming off a Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro season, establishing himself as a young star. However, with the Lions needing to sign several other young players long-term, LaPorta could potentially be the odd man out. The Chiefs, who just re-signed veteran Travis Kelce, may see LaPorta as a potential successor and long-term option to pair with Patrick Mahomes.

The details

In the proposed trade, the Lions would swap first-round picks with the Chiefs, moving up from No. 17 to No. 9. The Chiefs would also send over a conditional 2027 fourth-round pick. The move would better position the Lions to land one of their top offensive tackle or EDGE targets in the 2026 NFL draft.

  • The proposed trade would happen during the 2026 NFL draft.

The players

Sam LaPorta

A 6-foot-3, 245-pound tight end for the Detroit Lions who had a Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro season in 2023.

Patrick Mahomes

The star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs who has led the team to three Super Bowl championships.

Travis Kelce

The veteran tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs who is 36 years old and could be nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career.

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What they’re saying

“Yes, the Chiefs just re-signed Travis Kelce, who is still an effective player and one of Patrick Mahomes' favorite receivers. But Kelce is 36, not what he once was, and could be in the last season of his Hall of Fame career. LaPorta is coming off back surgery, heading into the last year of his contract and may get squeezed out in Detroit, where the Lions have a lot of young players to sign.”

— Ralph Vacchiano, Fox Sports Analyst

What’s next

The proposed trade would need to be agreed upon by the Lions and Chiefs during the 2026 NFL draft.

The takeaway

This hypothetical trade highlights the difficult decisions teams face in managing their salary caps and retaining young star players. The Lions may have to make tough choices about which players to prioritize long-term, and the Chiefs could see LaPorta as a potential successor to the aging Travis Kelce.