Falcons Schedule Draft Visit with 'Versatile, Instinctual' Iowa TE Sam LaPorta
INDIANAPOLIS - The Atlanta Falcons have one of the NFL's best tight ends in Kyle Pitts ... but they're going to keep adding to the position this offseason.
Behind Pitts, the Falcons recently re-signed Parker Hesse, a block-first tight end, and still have Feleipe Franks, who's yet to catch a regular season pass but is a special teams asset.
In coach Arthur Smith's offense, Atlanta is heavily reliant on its tight ends, and adding another receiving threat to pair with Pitts should be on the agenda this offseason.
Enter Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta - who told Falcon Report that he's set for a visit "soon" with Atlanta, one of only 30 the team can have.
The 22-year-old LaPorta is fresh off a stellar season in which he was named the Hawkeyes' offensive Most Valuable Player and earned the Big Ten Tight End of the Year award as voted by coaches and media.
LaPorta, a native of Highland, Illinois, was a finalist for the John Mackey Award given to the nation's top tight end after recording 58 receptions for 657 yards and a touchdown, emerging as the clear top target on an offensively challenged unit.
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, LaPorta broke down the strong parts of his game while also acknowledging the need to keep getting better ...
"I'm really versatile," LaPorta said. "I was utilized a lot in our passing offense. I'm a developing blocker but still competitive - I have a long way to go. I think I'm an instinctual player; I always seem to be on the same page as the quarterback."
As a blocker, the 6-4, 249-pound LaPorta added that he's giving up "40 or 50 pounds" to most defensive ends but still finds ways to win, citing his competitiveness and leverage.
In essence, LaPorta is coming off a productive college career in which he was one of the premiere players at his position - but he's still ascending.
And perhaps most importantly, LaPorta checks several character-related boxes.
A permanent team captain, LaPorta was a Dean's List student at Iowa and was a three-time Academic All-State honoree and part of the National Honor Society in high school.
LaPorta's school smart and field smart - and believes he'll be a valuable piece to a professional team's culture.
"I'm going to be a locker room guy," LaPorta said. "I was a team captain this past year - being a captain is something really prestigious at Iowa. We have a leadership council vote weekly on team captains and I was voted every week throughout the season.
"I think that's one of my biggest things outside of football as to why a team should draft me."
Fontenot has stressed throughout the process the importance of character and adding the right players to the locker room - and LaPorta certainly fits that bill.
Viewed as a potential Day 2 selection, LaPorta may go before the Falcons will considering adding a tight end ... but Fontenot abides by the policy of "best player available," and there's a chance LaPorta lands high on Atlanta's board after the Combine and visit.
Now, the question about the Falcons' interest in LaPorta becomes how much, not if - which won't be fully answered until April's draft.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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