The Detroit Lions added to their offensive line room twice during the 2024 NFL Draft, with the first selection coming in the fourth round when Detroit drafted British Columbia offensive tackle Giovanni Manu after a trade up.
Manu was projected to go much later then that, but this was just yet another case of a team’s draft board not lining up with the boards of experts. Giving credence to the fact that the Lions are very high on the Tonga native is the fact that they traded up to get him, giving up a 2025 third-round pick.
While the uber-athletic 6-foot-7, 352-pound lineman has been billed as an offensive tackle coming out, the Lions plan on using him at guard, and more specifically at right guard, at least according to Manu.
“I think the goal is, (head coach Dan Campbell) wants me playing on the right side, so that’s a bit of an adjustment since I’ve normally played on the left side,” Manu told TSN’s Donnie and Dhali. “But I think their vision is they want me playing right guard next to Penei Sewell, which is an outstanding right tackle. If I could earn that spot and be right next to Penei Sewell, I think it would be the scariest right side in the NFL.”
Whatever the case may be, here’s a minute-plus of Manu manhandling defenders in college. Enjoy!
Giovanni Manu playing U Sports football is just unfair lol pic.twitter.com/3P5yUtcsyX
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) April 29, 2024
With Kevin Zeitler already slated to start, it would take quite the first-year leap from Manu to unseat him. That said, Zeitler is only on a one-year deal, so the rookie should have ample opportunity to win a starting job in 2025.