The Detroit Lions are heading into a pivotal offseason, and the spotlight is squarely on the trenches. With questions looming at both center and left tackle, the offensive line-once a strength-suddenly looks like a unit in transition. And that’s before even getting into the pass rush, which has its own looming void to fill.
Let’s start with the offensive line. The Taylor Decker situation is the big one.
Whether he retires or the team decides to move on from the longtime left tackle, Detroit is staring down the barrel of a major hole at one of the most important positions on the field. Decker’s been a staple on Jared Goff’s blindside, and replacing him won’t be as simple as plugging in the next man up.
That’s where things get even more complicated. The Lions don’t appear to have that “next man up” on the roster-at least not yet.
Giovanni Manu, a fourth-round pick from 2024, was thought to be a developmental piece, maybe even a long-term answer at tackle. But two years in, the coaching staff and front office aren’t ready to hand him the keys.
Brad Holmes, Detroit’s GM, put it plainly: it would be “unfair” to expect Manu to step into a starting role right now. That’s a telling quote.
It’s not just about readiness-it’s about roster value. If Manu isn’t ready to start in Year 3, and the Lions are likely to spend early draft capital on a tackle, then Manu’s spot on the roster gets a lot harder to justify.
And then there’s the financial side. Cutting Manu after June 1 would free up just over $1 million in cap space.
That might not seem like much, but for a team projected to be in the red heading into 2026, every dollar counts. Especially when you’re trying to retool both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Speaking of the other side-Detroit’s pass rush is also facing some serious attrition. Al-Quadin Muhammad is set to hit free agency, and there’s no clear replacement waiting in the wings.
That could push the Lions to be aggressive in free agency or prioritize edge help in the draft. Either way, it’s another signal that roster turnover is coming.
With OTAs just around the corner, the Lions’ front office has some tough calls to make. And for players like Giovanni Manu, the clock might be ticking louder than ever.