4th Round, Pick 126: Lions Select OT Giovanni Manu

[TouchdownMyPants]

@GreggyJ

Seeing some analysts slamming both trade ups as dumb because the guys would have been there in the 5th?

Good, they slammed Gibbs too

[REMRebound]

@SirLion

Yes…for more that one reason. Giving up future assets of higher value is never a good path to take IMO. And yeah, I’ve heard all about the mindset that picks this year are worth a higher round the next year. I just don’t buy into that BS over the long haul.

I generally agree, but it’s also worth considering that, as Lions fans, we may be still stuck in a mindset where we need as many able bodies as possible every damn year, because we lead the league in “Only X guys remain from the 20XX draft” articles.

In practice, if the Lions are a team competing for deep playoff runs every year, we will not have 6-7 open spots for rookies each season, and we’re going to see more draft picks get cut in training camp. In which case, if they see a guy they love, it’s probably OK to give up a future mid-round pick.

[Mongoose]

@GreggyJ

Seeing some analysts slamming both trade ups as dumb because the guys would have been there in the 5th?

I like the picks, what I don’t like is the price tags we’re paying to move up

Holmes is 100% a trade up guy though

[BarrySanders20]

Manu is a serious PROJECT imo

[Tucker]

He’s gonna be a stud as CBS doesn’t know shit.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/draft-tracker/

[Thats2]

The only legit scouting reports on this guy will come from team scouts. Everyone else is watching grainy broadcast footage, team hype videos, and highlights

[Spartansd]

@Jman

He will be better in 2025 than a 3rd round OT we draft

Redshirt year gets to train with us

I kind of agree. This is the type of flier you take a risk on. This has super high reward with minimal risk IMO. By next years draft if he is able to develop he should be a 1st or second round grade prospect. This is IMO one of the ways you get ahead of the league and the salary cap. You got to be looking at ever damn angle and every option out there and project that pick against the risk reward.

By this time next year if he is a viable starter or solid option for the line then he will have come cheap or at least right priced. I do like the creativity.

[SirLion]

Sorry, but Holmes is getting rocked on trade compensation this draft…IMO. He just is.

[Mr_Bob_Dobalina]

How the hell is this a smartest guy in the room pick? Batboy Bob taking Teez running a 4.7 is smartest guy in the room. We just took arguably the biggest freakshow OT in the draft up there with Mims. He’s super raw but we have a top O-line coach in the league who we trust to coach him up in what will be a redshirt season for him. This is taking traits and trusting in your coaching.

[GreggyJ]

Yeah does seem like Holmes is a little too aggressive here, especially for a project when the team needs OL help now.

[Alex_Analzone]

@radiofriendly

a monster of an OT

I’m gonna go with this.

Brad knows what he’s doing. Dan knows what to do with Brad’s outputs.

[Thats2]

@SirLion

Sorry, but Holmes is getting rocked on trade compensation this draft…IMO. He just is.

It may come back to bite him some day to be a draft-day overpayer, but the reality is we don’t know if he’s really overpaying for them until a few years down the line. He clearly has faith that he’s not, and faith in your evaluations is the #1 trait a GM can have (and so far he’s backed it up).

[Mongoose]

@Mr_Bob_Dobalina

We just took arguably the biggest freakshow OT in the draft up there with Mims.

I really like the pick and the prospect, but I would have a very hard time saying he’s in that freakshow category like Mims

[Weaselpuppy]

That dude is 67350 and jacked with a sub 5 40 33 1/2 in vertical. Get out of town.

Don’t nobody want to be on the outside with him coming around the edge on a pull or a trap holy crap

[Mr_Bob_Dobalina]

Think of him getting elite coaching with Hank all season and a year going against players like Hutch and Houston in practice. What would his draft stock be entering next year’s draft after that experience? Would he be worth a third then?

[Snags]

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1784273629812752417?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet

[BigNatty]

@Motorcitymaniac

Don’t understand giving up a 3rd next year for this guy.

You will.

[RushDad]

Several points here:

1. Manu is definitely a project, but unlike prior years, the Lions clearly believe they have the coaching staff to turn him into an NFL player. He has a ton of upside (he nearly weighs a ton!) and measurables that you simply cannot coach.

2. The Lions brought Manu in for one of their 30 allowed visits and clearly were impressed with the personality and ambition he has. That they drafted him means he has the intangibles that the Lions value and feel they can work with.

3. Giving up next years 3rd round pick says to me that the Lions have a very high confidence that they can make him into a quality starter. They are not “taking a flyer” on the guy. They really believe he will be a contributing player. Given how they developed Rodrigo and Barnes, I will give the Lions the benefit of the doubt.

4. Vaki was not drafted as a Safety! The pick was announced as a Running Back. I am tired of hearing people dump on this kid as a UDFA level safety. He played safety at Utah because they needed him there, but he also was a running back in certain games. Few of you saw the game, but Vaki played running back against USC and just destroyed them. He is a power back with excellent quickness in the hole. Excellent in the passing game as well as he can block with the best of the RBs.

[CrazyCanuck89]

He played LT in college.

[Mr_Bob_Dobalina]

6’8 352, low body fat, 35 inch arms, a 33.5 inch vert, and sub 5 40 is pretty scary imo.