When the Detroit Lions traded up to in the 2024 NFL Draft to select British Columbia offensive tackle Giovanni Manu in the fourth round, many were surprised by it, considering Manu was expected to go later.
It was figured that Manu would be a project, even though he has all the physical traits to be a successful offensive lineman at the next level — and that’s exactly what is the case so far this offseason.
When addressing the media on Tuesday ahead of the first session of minicamp, head coach Dan Campbell made it clear Manu has some work to do.
“Yeah, he’s swimming. But we expected him to be swimming,” Campbell said. “We fully expected for this to get worse before it ever gets better. He’s trying to find his way. I mean, we’re back to the basics of just how you get in stance properly, where your weight goes when you get out of the stance, where your help is, certainly the scheme, the working with others, working with the tight end in this combination, working with the guard, pass and twist.”
“He’s just in the infant stages,” Campbell added. “So we’re literally working from the ground up and we knew it was going to be that way….You got to break them down and then and build them back up. And that’s what Hank (Fraley) is doing right now.”
Campbell also left the door open for Manu to not contribute much this year.
“I would love to say ‘hey, we’re gonna get him this year, you know, by middle of the season,’ and that would be great. And that’s always gonna be the goal, is how fast can we get one of these guys contributing and helping us. But we also knew what we were acquiring and so we’re prepared to take this as it comes. Whenever he’s ready, he’s ready. And that’s okay, if that doesn’t mean it’s this year and its next year, that’s great. But certainly we’re trying to push to get him ready now….”
Again, this isn’t surprising. Not only is Manu having to acclimate to the NFL, which is difficult in and of itself, he also might be learning a new position. Manu revealed earlier this offseason that he thinks the team’s vision is for him to play guard. Of course, Manu played tackle in college.
“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,” Manu said in April. “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.”
Despite the review, it’s far too early to push the panic button on a rookie and this coaching staff deserves the benefit of the doubt that it can develop Manu into a starting-caliber player down the road.