When the Detroit Lions hired Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator, one of the biggest questions was how his offensive system would impact the tight end position. If his time with the Arizona Cardinals is any indication, Lions tight ends Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright could be heavily involved in the offense.
Petzing’s offense in Arizona featured heavy personnel, play-action, and frequent use of tight ends in both the passing game and blocking schemes. That system helped turn Trey McBride into one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL, and it could signal big things for Detroit’s tight end room.
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McBride’s emergence under Petzing is the clearest example of how the Lions may use LaPorta and Wright. In 2023, McBride recorded 81 receptions for 825 yards on 106 targets, leading the Cardinals in targets that season. In 2024, his role expanded even further, as he caught 111 passes for 1,146 yards and was targeted 147 times, again leading the team.
Those numbers are elite for a tight end and show just how important the position is in Petzing’s offense. Rather than using tight ends strictly as blockers or red zone threats, Petzing built part of the passing game around McBride, using short and intermediate routes, play-action passes, and mismatches against linebackers and safeties.
That should be encouraging for LaPorta, who already established himself as one of the top young tight ends in the league. In Petzing’s system, LaPorta could see a similar role to McBride as a primary target in the middle of the field, especially on play-action and third downs.
However, the impact of Petzing’s offense may not be limited to just one tight end. His system frequently uses multiple tight end sets, which could increase the role of Brock Wright as well. Wright has primarily been known for his blocking ability, but in a two-tight-end system, he could see more targets in short-yardage situations, red zone packages, and play-action concepts where defenses focus on LaPorta.
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Petzing’s philosophy has been described as multiple and adaptable, using different personnel groupings to attack defensive weaknesses. That often includes heavy formations with two tight ends, something that fits Detroit’s physical offensive identity. This means both LaPorta and Wright could be on the field together more often than in previous seasons.
For LaPorta, the biggest impact could be target volume and versatility. If Petzing uses him the way he used McBride, LaPorta could line up in the slot, out wide, and inline, creating matchup problems across the field. McBride’s 147 targets in 2024 show that Petzing is willing to funnel a passing offense through a tight end if the player is talented enough.
For Wright, the impact may come in efficiency rather than volume. More two-tight-end sets mean more snaps, more routes, and more opportunities for play-action catches near the goal line or on short-yardage plays.
Overall, Petzing’s arrival could significantly increase the importance of the tight end position in Detroit’s offense. If his track record with Trey McBride is any indication, Sam LaPorta could remain one of the focal points of the offense, while Brock Wright could see an expanded role as part of a heavy personnel system.
In other words, the Lions’ tight end room may become one of the most important position groups in the offense under Drew Petzing. Be