Tag: Giovanni Manu

Instant reaction to the Lions trading up to select Giovanni Manu and Sione Vaki

Instant reaction to the Lions trading up to select Giovanni Manu and Sione Vaki in the fourth round

For a team that wasn’t scheduled to have any picks in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft, it sure turned into an eventful round for the Detroit Lions.

Detroit and GM Brad Holmes made two separate trades to jump into the fourth round. The first saw the Lions send a 2025 third-round pick to the New York Jets for giant Giovanni Manu, an offensive tackle prospect who played college at British Columbia in Canada. The second trade dealt three picks (164, 201 and a 2025 fourth-rounder) to the Philadelphia Eagles for No. 132 and No. 210. With that pick, the Lions drafted Utah running back/safety Sione Vaki.

Manu is about as unknown of a prospect as there can be this early in the draft. A 6-foot-7, 352-pound native of Tonga, he went to Canada as a basketball player before outgrowing the sport. He’s played left tackle for the University of British Columbia. Dripping with athletic promise, Manu’s game is still raw.

Vaki did a little bit of everything at Utah. In 2023 alone, the 5-11, 210-pound athlete played at least 50 snaps at free safety, box safety, slot corner and off-ball LB on defense, as well as at running back. He even took 13 reps as a wildcat quarterback. In his introductory press conference, Vaki indicated the Lions will have him play running back as his primary position.

These are very interesting trades, particularly for Manu. Sending a 2025 third-round pick for a player who is unlikely to play before that season is a gamble on the player developmental prowess of offensive line coach Hank Fraley. On the surface, Manu provides an athletic but terribly inexperienced backup tackle to a team in desperate need of depth across the offensive line.

Befitting that he’s effectively a 2025 pick and cost the Lions no 2024 draft capital, judging the trade up and selection of Manu needs to wait until at least 2025. It’s an investment in the future with a player Holmes and the Lions clearly felt quite strongly about his potential.

Vaki figures to be a core special teams player in Detroit as well as a reserve running back. He’s an explosive but all-or-nothing type of runner, with a physical style and decent hands out of the backfield but not a lot of elusiveness or lateral quickness. The trade up indicates the Lions see him as a potential return specialist as well as a coverage teams demon.

Trading up into the fourth round to land players who almost certainly won’t contribute beyond special teams as rookies carries some risk for Holmes and Detroit. Should Manu prove a quick study and can be the No. 3 offensive tackle in 2024, that will help the perception, but that’s not a given.

This is an exercise in trusting Holmes to trust his board and his coaching staff for the long-term instead of drafting more for immediate need or rookie contribution. The pick traded away for Vaki were unlikely to do much on the field for 2024 either, so that should soften the blow if the new Lions don’t ultimately pan out.

Broncos host ‘best kept secret’ behemoth on a pre-draft visit

The Broncos brought in Tongan-Canadian OT Giovanni Manu for a pre-draft visit. He’s a massive, 6-7, 352-pound sleeper prospect.

The Denver Broncos brought in a “behemoth” prospect for a pre-draft visit on Wednesday, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

University of British Columbia offensive tackle Giovanni Manu (6-7, 352 pounds) has been described as “the best kept secret in the NFL draft” by Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. The Tonga-born Canadian ran a 40-yard dash in 4.96 seconds a this pro day, according to JC Abbott of 3DownNation.

Manu played basketball in high school before later switching to football in college. He played left tackle and left guard for UBC, earning All-Canada recognition in each of the last two seasons.

Manu is projected to go undrafted later this month, but he will likely be a top college free agent target for several NFL teams. He had visits with at least 11 teams leading up to the draft, according to NFL Network.

Manu might be selected during the CFL draft (April 30), but if given an opportunity to join an NFL team, it’s hard to imagine him continuing his football career in Canada. The NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27. We are tracking all of Denver’s prospect visits on Broncos Wire.

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Browns meet with yet another offensive tackle before the 2024 NFL draft

Another left tackle meets with the Browns

The brain trust in Cleveland continues to turn over every stone leading up to the 2024 NFL draft at the end of the month. The Browns are one of at least seven teams bringing in University of British Columbia left tackle Giovanni Manu.

Manu is a massive player rivaling Browns tackle Dawand Jones, at 6-foot-8 and 352 pounds. The former Thunderbird moves well at his size and showed that off at his pro day with an impressive 4.96-second 40-yard dash at 352 pounds.

He is a raw player and likely won’t get drafted, but it is easy to see why you’d be interested in taking a shot on him. Once Manu gets his hands on you, you’re going where he wants you to in the run game. He has excellent raw power blended with natural athleticism. If you can develop him over time, he could be a nice depth piece down the road with the physical tools he possesses.

Giants met with British Columbia OL Giovanni Manu

The New York Giants reportedly met with University of British Columbia offensive lineman Giovanni Manu on Monday.

The New York Giants will leave no stone unturned when it comes to improving their offensive line, even if that means outsourcing a bit.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the Giants met with Giovanni Manu of the University of British Columbia on Monday.

The 6-foot-7, 352-pound Manu has drawn the interest of at least 16 teams ahead of the 2024 NFL draft and should be considered an under-the-radar prospect after his impressive pro day performance.

In addition to the Giants, Manu has met or is scheduled to meet with six other teams.

Here’s what Next Pro Scouting had to say about Manu:

Giovanni Manu is an intriguing offensive tackle prospect from the University of British Columbia, known for his immense size, strength, and unexpected athleticism. His ability to impact both the run game and pass protection makes him a valuable asset for NFL teams looking for a dominant presence on the offensive line.

Where teams value the Tongan offensive lineman is unclear but don’t be surprised if someone takes a Day 3 flier based on his size and athleticism alone.

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Colts to host highly under the radar OL prospect on pre-draft visit

The Colts are reportedly hosting highly under the radar OL prospect Giovanni Manu from British Columbia University on a pre-draft visit.

The Indianapolis Colts are one of seven teams that are reportedly scheduled to host University of British Columbia offensive lineman Giovanni Manu for an official pre-draft visit, according to Justin Dunk of 3 Down Nation.

Each team is permitted to have 30 of these pre-draft meetings. It’s an opportunity for the player to come to the facility, where the team is able to have one-on-one time with them to go over film, see how they would fit in the locker room, and to go through medicals if needed.

Manu held his Pro-Day on March 29th, in which Dunk reports that 16 NFL teams attended, including the Colts, who had offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter in attendance.

“Manu stands six-foot-seven and 352 pounds,” wrote Dunk. “He recorded a 5.03-second forty-yard dash with a 1.81 ten-yard split, as well as an 8.29 three-cone and 4.81 short shuttle. The Pitt Meadows, B.C. native put up 23 reps on the bench press while leaping 33.5 inches in the vertical and 107 inches in the broad.”

Dunk adds that had Manu been invited to the NFL Combine, his 40-yard dash would have tied for ninth among offensive linemen and his vertical jump would have tied for sixth.

There are only so many men on this planet at that size who can move that well, which is why Manu is garnering so much attention during this pre-draft process.

Manu, who was born in Tonga, has earned All-Canadian honors in 2022 and 2023, playing both the left tackle and left guard positions.

Although offensive tackle Jake Witt, who the Colts drafted in the seventh round of the 2023 draft out of DII Northern Michigan, wasn’t as under the radar as Manu is, it’s a pick that does go to show that GM Chris Ballard will take a flier on an athletic tackle with upside.