Lions rookie minicamp observations: TE Sam LaPorta puts on a show, UDFAs to watch

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Lions rookie minicamp is unfolding this weekend, and Saturday offered our first look at Detroit’s 2023 draft class and a number of UDFAs participating with the team.

Although the Lions held a few players out as a precaution, there were still several worth monitoring. A pair of Iowa Hawkeyes were the focus Saturday, but Detroit’s rookie minicamp practice also featured a nose tackle who’s hungry for playing time and a pair of UDFAs who appear to be fitting in.

Here are some of the standouts from Saturday.

LaPorta’s big day

The best player on the field Saturday, by a wide margin, was tight end Sam LaPorta. He got plenty of looks from quarterback Adrian Martinez, targeted early and often, and he caught everything that came his way. Over the middle, in traffic, toe-tapping the sideline … LaPorta was feasting. He’d make a standout play, then casually trot back to the huddle and toss the ball to a nearby assistant before lining up to do it all over again.

One thing that stands out about LaPorta is his versatility. The Lions used him as an in-line tight end with his hand in the dirt but also flexed him out to receiver during Saturday’s practice, something he did routinely at Iowa. Expect more of the same in Detroit. LaPorta can hurt opposing teams in so many ways, but the most impressive part of his game is his elusiveness.

During the one-on-one special teams coverage drill, LaPorta showed impressive acceleration. In that same drill, LaPorta bested former Iowa teammate Jack Campbell with a jump-stop move as a ball carrier that drew a loud applause from Lions players and coaches in attendance. For good measure, LaPorta made sure to let his former roommate know he won the rep.

A light-hearted dig at a close friend, but also an example of LaPorta’s natural charm paired with his football skill. It’s easy to see why the Lions liked him.

Lions TE Sam LaPorta bested fellow Hawkeye/Lions teammate Jack Campbell during a special teams coverage drill — then pointed at him after the rep.

Great response when asked about it 😂 pic.twitter.com/Z9AtoUlTzH

— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) May 13, 2023

Much was made of the LaPorta pick at the time, and there’s a good chance his career will forever be linked to some of the tight ends selected after him, most notably the Raiders’ Michael Mayer, who was scooped up one pick after Detroit grabbed LaPorta. Taking Mayer at No. 34 might’ve helped the Lions win over more of the draft community, but LaPorta could ultimately be the player that helps them win games. He’s a better fit for the Lions offense based on the strengths displayed Saturday and throughout his Iowa career.

The different places you can line up LaPorta before the snap, and what he can do after the catch, is what intrigued the organization. It almost feels as though the Lions want to build a semi-positionless offense with speed and playmaking as the core strength among skill players. The Lions have the personnel to trot out Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and LaPorta all at once in certain packages. If all goes according to plan, it’s going to make life easier for quarterback Jared Goff and keep the offense humming.

All of this comes with the obvious caveat that it’s just rookie minicamp and that several players in attendance won’t sniff a 53-man roster. But the Lions coveted LaPorta for a reason. He has a different gear and more versatility than some of his peers in the 2023 draft class, and he’s so self-assured in the way he carries himself. For the Lions on Saturday, he was the best player on the field. And it wasn’t particularly close.

Campbell’s learning process

There were only three linebackers working with inside linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard during positional drills: Illinois’ Isaac Darkangelo, Saginaw Valley State’s Trevor Nowaske and Campbell — the crown jewel of the group and a potential building block for the franchise.

That meant plenty of reps — and hands-on instruction — from Sheppard. If you’ve seen the way Sheppard coaches, you know what that entails. A detailed and informative breakdown. Real-time feedback from a guy who has been there and done that. Campbell got the full experience. And the hope is he’ll be better for it.

During linebacker drills, Sheppard instructed his group to drop into coverage. They were asked to flip their hips — as linebackers do — and drop diagonally into a zone before making a play on a ball against a receiver running vertically. During one of the first reps, Sheppard noticed that Campbell’s eyes were locked on to his receiver. It resulted in his misjudging a ball and losing his man in coverage. Sheppard took the time to correct that. Campbell didn’t make the same mistake twice.

Coaches know their message is getting through when they see players self-correct in action. Consider that message received.

Jack going 🆙 pic.twitter.com/LZHfiNvltY

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) May 13, 2023

“Shep’s a great coach,” Campbell said. “When he steps on the field, there’s nothing more important to him than performing at the highest level, and I like that kind of coaching style. He’ll get into you when he needs to get into you just to bring out the best in you, because he loves you as a player. For me, (I’m) just trying to take the message of what he’s trying to say and then apply it and not make the same mistake twice.”

The Lions drafted Campbell to make an immediate impact. Head coach Dan Campbell suggested as much Friday on “Good Morning Football.” Part of the process with Jack Campbell, from now until the season opener, will be homing in on the details. He certainly looks the part already as a strong communicator in the heart of the defense. He’s a man among boys in terms of his stature. There aren’t too many guys his size who can move like him at the LB position. But practices like this will ultimately prepare him for what’s ahead.

Learning, banking, putting it into action.

DT Martin wants to contribute early

One player I had my eye on Saturday was defensive tackle Brodric Martin, a product of Western Kentucky. Admittedly, I hadn’t seen much film on him before the Lions traded three Day 3 picks to acquire him in the third round. It felt like a bit of a reach at the time, but perhaps the NFL was higher on him than most realized. He might just be one of those picks that begin to make more sense when you see the player in action.

Martin’s length stands out immediately, as he has long arms (35 inches) on a massive 330-pound frame. He was easily the biggest defensive lineman the Lions had out there. His upside as a space-eating nose tackle is clear as day, and it’s something that stood out to the Lions. Assistant GM Ray Agnew was asked about him Saturday morning before practice.

“There’s a lot of upside with the guy,” Agnew said. “First of all, he’s big, powerful and strong. He’s got some technique stuff (to fix), but everything about him is fixable. I think our D-line coach will do a great job of teaching him how to play the game. …There’s a lot in that body, man. We’re excited about him.”

After those comments, I made sure to watch Martin’s interactions with John Scott Jr., Detroit’s new D-line coach. In pretty much every position drill, Martin was the first man up in line. Have to imagine that was intentional. It was almost like a one-on-one session at times. When Scott was teaching a new drill or directing players, he’d use Martin to demonstrate for the rest of the class. Meanwhile, Martin looked like a quick study out there who moves very well for his size. He’s aiming to contribute early on.

“I wanna play this year,” Martin said confidently. “I wanna do this now. Although I came from a small school and all that, I’m looking to play. … I wanna be in Kansas City (for) the first game.”

"He's got a lot of upside."@BrodricMartin pic.twitter.com/JDpdzYB9kE

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 29, 2023

Football aside, I’m just going to put this out there now: If Martin develops into the player Brad Holmes drafted him to be, he’s quickly going to become a fan favorite. Martin has a good sense of humor and is refreshingly candid. He has a great attitude and perspective on life. He called this experience surreal. And he said that when he walked into the Lions’ practice facility and saw his name on his locker, he almost shed tears.

If he can shed blockers, he’ll find himself in the mix early.

“I come in here smiling every day,” Martin said. “I ain’t frowned yet. I’m just smiling, man. This is a blessing. I’m blessed.”

Injury updates and UDFAs

The Lions didn’t have their full rookie class on the field Saturday, which is worth noting. RB Jahmyr Gibbs was dealing with a minor ankle issue and was held out of practice as a precaution. No concerns there. If anything, it sounded like both sides figured there was no reason to push him for minicamp. Same with second-round safety Brian Branch, who also sat out Saturday’s practice with a tweak. QB Hendon Hooker is still recovering from a torn ACL, but he was out there watching and soaking up info from assistant QBs coach J.T. Barrett.

The draft picks weren’t the only players out there, of course. A couple of UDFAs who caught my attention: CB Starling Thomas V and RB Mohamed Ibrahim. The obvious name here is Ibrahim, who rushed for more than 4,600 yards and scored 53 TDs in his career. His best fit in the NFL is a role as a short-yardage, goal-line back who can churn out tough yards and be a bruiser. It’s early, but Ibrahim could find himself competing for Detroit’s RB3 job.

“He’s a physical runner,” Agnew said. “We like the guy. We like everything about him. I don’t really want to single out any of those guys because then the rest of them feel like, ‘I don’t have a chance.’ But he was a productive runner, especially between the tackles. Very physical. We like the player.”

Thomas, meanwhile, earned a fifth-round grade from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler but ended up going undrafted. For that reason, I figured it’d be worth following him a bit. What I saw was a player who’s physically well-built, looked sticky in coverage and possessed excellent speed. It’s too early to talk about roster spots, and Detroit’s secondary upgrades this offseason work against Thomas, but I thought he had a nice day. If he keeps stacking them, he feels like a type of player who’ll find a way to stick around in this league.

Overall, it was a solid day of work for Lions rookies — and a solid first look for those in attendance.

(Photo of Sam LaPorta: Paul Sancya / Associated Press)