Detroit Lions add interior OL depth, draft Christian Mahogany in sixth round

Holmes: ‘He’s got some dirtbag in him’

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions added depth to the offensive line with their final pick in the NFL draft by taking Christian Mahogany (Boston College) in the sixth round (210 overall).

Mahogany, who is 6-foot-3 and 314 pounds, was first team all-ACC in 2023 when he started 12 games at right guard.

Lions GM Brad Holmes said he was shocked Mahogany was available so late in the draft and would not speculate why he dropped. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein had projected him as a fourth-round pick.

“He fits how we want to play,’’ Holmes said. “… He’s got some dirtbag in him.’’

Mahogany takes that as a compliment.

“It’s something I really pride myself on. … I look forward to bringing it to the National Football League,’’ Mahogany said on a conference call on Saturday.

He’s thrilled to be selected by the Lions who have one of the top offensive lines in the League. He wants to be a sponge and learn from the best.

Mahogany is the first interior lineman that the Lions have ever drafted from Boston College.

Zierlein on Mahogany: “Big and powerful but lacking the leverage and body control needed to play a more consistent brand of football. Mahogany’s early tape was very problematic due to shoddy footwork caused by a poor stance, but he made a midseason self-correction that led to better tape later in the year. He doesn’t have the short-area movements to be a consistent pass protector against NFL sub-packages, but the hand usage and punch are good. Mahogany is a downhill mauler who needs to continue technique work but also needs to play for a team that values the big power players and allows them to do what they do best in the run game. He has a chance to be a backup with upside early in his career.’’

Mahogany was the Lions final pick in the draft which set a record with more than 700,000 fans over three days in Detroit.

Lions 2024 draft picks:

First round — CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama

Second round — CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr, Missouri

Fourth round — OL Giovanni Manu, British Columbia

Fourth round — RB/ST Sione Vaki, Utah

Sixth round — DT Mekhi Wingo, LSU

Sixth round — G Christian Mahogany, Boston College

Detroit Lions trade up, draft DT Mekhi Wingo from LSU in 6th round

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions traded up to draft DT Mekhi Wingo in the sixth round of Saturday’s draft. Detroit traded picks 205 and 249 to the Houston Texans to move up to 189.

Wingo, who is undersized at 6-foot and 284 pounds, calls himself a disruptor who likes a violent style of football. Sounds like a perfect fit for coach Dan Campbell.

“To make up for the lack of size I have to do the ordinary things extremely well,’’ Wingo said on a conference call on Saturday. “Like I have to have better eyes than a guy who is 6-5 and my hand placement has to be better. I’ve been undersized my whole life, it’s not just something that just happened.’’

In 2023, Wingo played in eight games with seven starts at LSU. He missed the end of the regular season with a lower-body injury, but returned for the team’s ReliaQuest Bowl win over Wisconsin. Many players heading to the NFL, skip the bowl game but it was important to Wingo and speaks to his character.

“Of course I could’ve just packed it up, declared and did this, but it really got to me watching my team lose a few games and me being on the sidelines,’’ Wingo said in a conference call on Saturday. “Once I had my surgery I just rehabbed my butt off and made the emphasis to get back on the field and be with my guys one last time.’’

A team captain, he finished the season with 25 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He started his collegiate career at Missouri and transferred to LSU for the 2022 season.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein projected him as a fourth-round pick.

Zierlein’s analysis: “Wingo is a shade undersized, but his tape is fun to watch. He is compact and powerful, with the ability to separate and play off of lateral blocks quickly. He can be overcome by length or mass at times but is rarely dominated. He has first-step quickness and processing to beat blockers to erase their landmarks and is tremendously agile as a short-space tackler. Wingo has a hop-and-chop rush move typically seen from defensive ends and will be too athletic for some guards to handle as a pass rusher. Wingo could become an early backup as an even-front 3-technique but he has three down-potential and could eventually become a starter.”

He’s the Lions’ third defensive pick this draft. They selected cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw in the first two rounds. Wingo is the first defensive player out of LSU that the Lions have drafted since 1974. He and Rakestraw were teammates at Missouri for one season.

Detroit Lions draft versatile Sione Vaki out of Utah in fourth round

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions selected versatile Sione Vaki after moving up in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. Earlier in the round, they nabbed OL Giovanni Manu.

Vaki played running back, safety and special teams at Utah. So an NFL position for him is not clearly defined.

“When I visited the Lions my initial thought was to come in and be wherever the coaches, wherever the organization wanted me to be. It was for the offensive side of the ball so wherever they need me I’m ready to go,’’ said Vaki who ran a 4.62 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

He said his pre-draft process was nerve-wracking because teams viewed him differently. He said it benefits him knowing how to play both sides of the ball.

At Utah, Vaki also played special teams which is a benefit for a fourth-round player.

“I’m all about special teams,’’ said Vaki, the youngest of 11 children.

Last season he was first-team All-Pac 12 Conference and a finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the year and the Paul Hornung Award for most versatile player.  He started 12 games (42 carries, 317 yards,  2 TDs rushing; 51 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss with 2 sacks, INT, 2 pass break-ups). He played in all 14 games in 2022. In 2020-21 he served a two-year Latter Day Saints mission in Tonga.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein on Vaki: “Gamer who does whatever is necessary to help his team win. Vaki carries a thick frame with good upper-body power and heavy hands. He took on carries to help his team when it was stung by injuries, but he’s not an NFL running back. He’s a conscientious tackler who is careful to center up and launch his attack only when he’s in realistic striking position. He is overmatched in coverage and struggles when plays roll downfield. Vaki’s below-average athletic traits and lack of positional fit might create a limited path forward.’’

He projected Vaki as a sixth-round pick.

“I’m just grateful to be coming to the Motor City and ready to get started whenever,’’ Vaki said.