Dan Campbell dropped some good news about Sam LaPorta this week. The tight end is making progress after back surgery ended his 2025 season, and Detroit is already thinking about a contract extension. That matters, obviously. But the Lions have two other guys who could quietly become real problems for the rest of the NFC North.
The roster doesn’t need a full rebuild. Jared Goff is steady. Amon-Ra St. Brown sets the tone. Jahmyr Gibbs is explosive. LaPorta should be back. But the difference between a good team and a deep playoff run often comes down to players who weren’t on anybody’s radar in July.
Isaac TeSlaa Has the Size and the Story
The Lions traded up for TeSlaa in the 2025 draft, and that alone tells you something. They don’t do that for just anybody. He grew up a Detroit fan, which is nice, but the front office didn’t spend draft capital on sentiment. They wanted a 6-foot-4, 214-pound receiver who ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and averaged 19.5 yards per catch at Arkansas with zero drops.
Think about what that does to a defense. St. Brown works the middle. Jameson Williams threatens deep. LaPorta eats up linebackers and safeties. Now you add a big target who can win in the red zone and draw attention away from everybody else. TeSlaa doesn’t need to be the guy. He just needs to be the guy who makes it harder to double the guy.
The question is development. Campbell’s staff demands blocking and details. TeSlaa has to earn Goff’s trust and prove he can handle NFL corners. If he does, the numbers might not jump off the page — maybe 45 catches, some explosive plays, solid red-zone work. But the impact will show up in ways that don’t always hit the stat sheet.
Sione Vaki Does Everything
Vaki is the kind of player Detroit loves. A fourth-round pick in 2024 who played running back and safety at Utah. That’s not normal. He ran for 317 yards, caught passes for 203, scored five offensive touchdowns, and then turned around and made 92 tackles with 12 tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception. On defense.
Detroit lists him as a running back, but his real value is flexibility. He can back up Gibbs, play special teams, and line up in spots that confuse defensive coordinators. At Utah he averaged 18.5 yards per reception in 2023, which is absurd for a guy who also hits people for a living.
Special teams is probably where he makes his initial mark. The Lions value guys who can cover kicks and handle offensive snaps on the same day. Vaki’s defensive background helps with angles and tackling on coverage units. A few explosive touches here and there, some consistent special teams work, and suddenly he’s not just a depth piece anymore.
This isn’t about Vaki becoming a star. It’s about being the kind of player who earns a roster spot every week because he can help in three different phases. Detroit’s offense is built around stars, but it runs on players like Vaki who do the stuff that doesn’t make highlight reels.
Neither of these guys is going to win Offensive Player of the Year. But they could be the difference between a first-round exit and a real push in January.
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