The Detroit Lions are experimenting with Giovanni Manu at a completely different position, and honestly, it’s about time. After spending draft capital to move up and grab him in the 2024 NFL Draft, the former tackle is now getting looks at guard. It might be his last shot to prove he belongs on this roster.
Let’s be real about this. The Lions don’t miss often in the draft. They’ve drafted more All-Pro players since 2021 than anyone else in the league. Most of their picks stick around in important roles.
Then there’s Manu. The Lions traded up to get him, and at the time, the hype was legitimate. Teams were lining up visits. There was genuine belief that if Detroit didn’t move up, they weren’t getting him.
After two seasons? He still feels like he’s two seasons away from contributing anything meaningful. This summer might be his final opportunity to show something, anything, that justifies the investment.
Campbell Explains the Guard Experiment
Dan Campbell laid out the thinking behind the position switch. They’ve had some injuries and absences, which opened up opportunities to try something different with Manu.
“That’s some of what this is, let’s experiment a little bit,” Campbell said. “So he’s still getting tackle reps, we’re seeing we’re trying to give him the best opportunity to showcase what he has and who knows? Maybe he is better at guard.”
Here’s the thing that makes this move make sense: the Lions apparently told Manu before they drafted him that they were thinking about him at guard. So this isn’t some desperate last-minute pivot. It’s getting back to an original idea.
If Manu can nail down guard, he’d make for one hell of a mountain of a player at that spot. The size and athleticism are there. The question has always been whether the technique and consistency would follow.
The Competition Is Brutal
The problem Manu faces is that guard competition is absolutely stacked right now. Christian Mahogany, Juice Scruggs, Miles Frazier, Ben Bartch, and Michael Niese are all fighting for spots. Every single one of them has actually played guard before, and they’ve all done it in the NFL.
That’s the mountain Manu has to climb. Not only does he need to master a position he’s never really played consistently, he needs to beat out guys who have been doing it successfully at the highest level.
But here’s the thing about this front office: they don’t give up on talent easily. They see something in Manu or they wouldn’t still be working with him. Maybe guard unlocks whatever they saw when they traded up to get him.
Is this Manu’s last chance to stick in Allen Park or are the Lions just that good at developing players nobody else believes in? Drop your take below.
