The Kansas City Chiefs have just six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, so if they were to give one up in a trade, it would have to be a strong offer.
Trades are always something to keep an eye on ahead of free agency. They are a good way to move on from lucrative contracts, as well as players who just aren’t fitting in anymore. Teams are taking endless calls this time of year as to who on their roster might be available.
ESPN NFL analysts Ben Solak and Dan Graziano ranked their top 15 trade candidates around the NFL, breaking down their contracts, attributes they bring to the football field, and why their current teams may want to deal them.
Kansas City Chiefs Named Potential Landing Spot for Detroit Lions TE Sam LaPorta via Trade
LaPorta was a second-round pick by the Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft. He had a huge rookie season, earning Second-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Here’s what Solak and Graziano had to say about Detroit possibly moving on from LaPorta:
The Lions have four 2023 draft picks they want to extend — LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell and Brian Branch — and there are people around the league who wonder whether they’ll be able to get all of those deals done or if they’d have to trade someone. Even if the Lions can’t extend LaPorta, I think the odds of them trading him are extremely thin, as Detroit still sees itself in a win-now window. — Graziano
LaPorta had back surgery this past season (489 receiving yards, three touchdowns) and hasn’t looked as explosive as he did as a rookie (889 yards, 10 scores in 2023), but he remains one of the most exciting young receivers at the position. Teams looking for a high-volume receiving tight end might be willing to spend a draft pick now on LaPorta, instead of risking a bidding war in free agency in 2027 should he come back to form. — Solak
Chiefs Are Still Awaiting Decision From Travis Kelce
GettyChiefs TE Travis Kelce
The future Hall of Fame tight end is still mulling over whether he wants to return for a 14th season or retire. General manager Brett Veach recently said that he has a plan already in place for whatever Kelce chooses to do. Could that be making a move for an already proven player like LaPorta?
It is true that LaPorta’s stats have taken a dip each of the past two seasons, but as Solak noted, injuries have played a significant role in that. The Lions also have numerous offensive weapons to spread the ball around to. A change of scenery could be what LaPorta needs to get back to putting up the production he had as a rookie.
Another piece of this hypothetical puzzle is the compensation that Kansas City would need to give up to acquire LaPorta. The Chiefs are projected to receive a compensatory pick in the fifth-round for the loss of defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton, so potentially using that for LaPorta wouldn’t be a bad deal.
Even if Kelce returns in 2026, pairing him and LaPorta together would make for a dynamic duo. It would enable LaPorta to take his time getting integrated within the offense, and take some pressure off the veteran Kelce late in the season. If LaPorta shows promise, he could be Kansas City’s next No. 1 tight end for years to come when Kelce finally does hang up his cleats.
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