Giovanni Manu didn’t hide how the Lions’ offseason hit him.
The developmental offensive tackle entered the spring with a real chance to climb the depth chart in his third year with Detroit. Instead, the picture changed fast.
The Lions signed Larry Borom in free agency, then used a first-round pick on Blake Miller. With Penei Sewell still locked in place, Manu is sitting at OT4.
Before the team wrapped up spring practices, Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network spoke with Manu, and the 25-year-old was blunt about how he took the news.
“…I’m not going to sugarcoat anything, I was frustrated,” Manu said. “I definitely had to sit in my living room for a little bit and just weigh it out, you know? What’s this (mean for) me in the future, how am I going to handle it?”
Manu didn’t just stew on it. He reached out to former NFL Pro Bowler LeCharles Bentley and got some advice that helped him process the moment. He’s also begun working some at guard, which gives him another path to keep pushing for a role.
That mindset came through clearly in his own words.
“I’ve faced harder situations in life than this, so if I can overcome those things, like this won’t break me,” Manu said.
Elsewhere, RoarMore37 on The Feed raised an idea worth considering: NIL money could give teams a better read on how players handle money at a young age, maybe even helping them avoid a Terrion Arnold-like situation.
And former Lions defensive lineman Julian Okwara got married over the weekend, with Romeo in attendance for what had to be a strong photo setup.
In Other News...
Taylor Decker May Be Drifting Toward A Quiet Lions Ending
Taylor Deckers offseason has been unusually quiet for a player who spent so long as one of Detroits most dependable pieces. After requesting his release in March, the veteran left tackle is still on the market as July nears, and his reluctance to jump to a division rival like the Bears has helped narrow the list of possible fits. For now, the search is less about a splashy return than finding a place where he can still make football sense.
Pittsburgh has been mentioned as a potential landing spot because of its need at left tackle, but nothing about Deckers next step feels straightforward. He has been weighing whether the right opportunity will even come along, and the longer he remains unsigned, the more this starts to look like a situation that could end without a new destination at all. For Detroit, it leaves open the possibility that a familiar face simply fades out of the picture rather than appearing in another uniform. [Read more 🡒]
Rock Ya-Sin Suddenly Sits At Center Of A Lions Concern
Rock Ya-Sin has become a much more important piece in Detroits cornerback picture than the Lions probably envisioned when they brought him back on a one-year deal. With the secondary suddenly needing stability, the veterans background, durability and ability to hold up in coverage have pushed him into a conversation that is less about depth and more about whether he can be trusted to handle a bigger role.
The Lions like his experience and the presence he brings to the room, and that matters even more when a position group is trying to absorb a major shakeup. Still, Detroit may not be done looking for help at corner, which leaves Ya-Sin in a spot that is both useful and unsettled as the team tries to sort out how much it can ask from him this season. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookie Suddenly Looks Crucial In Detroits Biggest Secondary Concern
Keith Abney II was drafted to give the Lions another young piece in the secondary, but the fifth-rounder is already getting a closer look than a typical developmental corner. The rookie is expected to work primarily inside as a slot cornerback, yet his college experience on the outside gives Detroit some flexibility as minicamp helps sort out where he fits best.
That flexibility matters because the Lions do not have much certainty at cornerback right now, and Abney may be needed sooner than planned if the depth chart keeps shifting. A role that once looked like a clean fit in the nickel could expand as the season approaches, leaving Detroit to see whether the rookie can handle a bigger job if called on. [Read more 🡒]