Detroit Lions trade up for Canadian OT Giovanni Manu in Round 4 of NFL draft 2024

Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Lions traded up to the fourth round to draft offensive tackle Giovanni Manu with the No. 126 overall pick Saturday in the 2024 NFL draft hosted in downtown Detroit. The Lions gave up a 2025 third-round pick to the New York Jets to move up.

The Lions previously traded their own third- and fourth-round picks, and entered Day 3 of the draft with four selections. They were not scheduled to pick until No. 164 late in Round 5 on Saturday, but general manager Brad Holmes was aggressive in trading up twice in Round 4.

Manu, 6 feet 7 and 350 pounds, is considered a developmental prospect and one of the most unique talents in the draft. He ran a 4.96-second 40-yard dash and began his athletic career as a rugby player growing up in Tonga in the South Pacific Islands.

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Manu, the first player ever drafted from UBC, made 11 pre-draft visits, including one to the Lions.

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Giovanni Manu blocking during a game.
Giovanni Manu blocking during a game.

The Lions return starting offensive tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker and have one of the best offensive lines in football, but entered the draft in need of more depth up front.

Decker, the Lions' first-round pick in 2016, is entering the final year of his contract, starting guards Graham Glasgow and Kevin Zeitler are 32 and 34, respectively, and Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow has long battled toe injuries.

The Lions then traded up with the Philadelphia Eagles to No. 132, six spots after taking Manu, and selected Utah running back Sione Vaki.

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The Lions have three picks left Saturday: two in Round 6 and one in Round 7.

The Lions previously moved up five spots in Thursday's first round to select Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold, and in Friday's second round grabbed Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions trade up to draft Canadian OT Giovanni Manu in Round 4

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