One of the Detroit Lions’ most fascinating picks in the 2024 NFL Draft was University of British Columbia offensive tackle Giovanni Manu. Some media members didn’t even have him on their radar and he was a late-rising prospect, but Detroit was convicted enough on his overall talent that they traded a 2025 third-round pick to draft him in the fourth round.
It turns out the intrigue goes even beyond picking an extremely huge and athletic tackle from a low level of competition. Apparently the Lions plan on changing his position—both to the other side of the line and at another position. Manu told TSN that Detroit plans on trying him out at right guard to start his NFL career.
“They’ve asked me where do I feel comfortable playing and I told them left side. That’s legit where I’ve always been playing my whole collegiate career, I’ve told them. But they’ve opened up to me and told me if I’m willing to play on the right side, because I feel like they want me playing next to Penei Sewell, is what they’ve kinda hinted at. I told them I would be open to it. They told me—it sounded like that’s where they’re going to put me at coming into rookie minicamp. I think they’re just going to rep me at the right side so I can get comfortable at it. It’s going to be a challenge for sure, but it’s something that I’m looking forward to do(ing).”
If that isn’t definitive enough for you, he also said directly on the Donnie and Dhali show that right guard is in his future:
“I think the goal is he wants me playing on the right side, so that’s a bit of an adjustment since I’ve normally played on the left side. 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.”
It’s not very common for a 6-foot-8 offensive lineman to play guard, as it usually presents leverage issues standing so tall over shorter defensive tackles. It’s not underheard of, though. Dan Skipper (6-foot-9) has played some guard. Two-time Eagles Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson is 6-foot-6, as is Halapoulivaati Vaitai—Detroit’s previous long-term plan at right guard.
And while this move seems a bit unconventional, it’s not a completely foreign position to Manu, either. He started six games in 2022 for British Columbia at left guard.
Obviously, the developmental learning curve could be long for someone like Manu, who will now have to adjust not only to a higher standard of play but a new position. However, Manu has a rare build and unbelievable athletic traits. Plus, the Lions raved about his personality after meeting with him on a pre-draft visit.
“We were so blown away just (by) his makeup, his character, the way he’s wired, and he’s got a lot of upside,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said Saturday night.
That said, even Holmes admitted this may take some time.
“It’s not a whole lot about right now with him,” Holmes said. “A lot like–you know we talked about (2023 third-round pick) Brodric Martin last year. This is more of a down-the-road future deal, but the upside is enormous. Just really, really excited to work with him.”
