Pride of Detroit
Second-year offensive tackle Giovanni Manu is poised to make a big Year 2 jump, even if it means limited contributions on the field.
Our 2025 Detroit Lions roster review continues with one of the most enigmatic players on the team.
Offensive lineman Giovanni Manu was arguably the most shocking pick of Detroit’s 2024 draft class, with general manager Brad Holmes trading a future third-round pick to select the University of British Columbia talent in the fourth round.
With that aggressive of a move in the draft, Holmes clearly sees potential with the raw prospect, but his rookie season was spent behind closed doors. Still, there are a lot of reasons to expect a huge jump from the massive offensive tackle in 2025.
Previous previews: RB Sione Vaki, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Jameson Williams, TE Sam LaPorta, EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, DT Brodric Martin, LB Grant Stuard, CB Ennis Rakestraw, K Jake Bates
From the moment the Lions drafted Manu, they warned the public that this was going to be a long-term project. All of the physical tools—including a massive but cut 6-foot-7 frame and incredible speed—are there, but an extensive amount of overhaul was needed to his form and football IQ.
“This is more of a down-the-road future deal, but the upside is enormous. Just really, really excited to work with him,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said on draft night.
And when training camp hit, it was abundantly clear that the Lions had little intention of having him play a significant role during his rookie season.
“I would love to say, ‘Hey we’re going to get him this year by the middle of the season,’ and that would be great, and that’s always going to be the goal is, how fast can we get one of these guys to where they’re contributing and helping us,” coach Dan Campbell said at the beginning of training camp. “But we also knew what we were acquiring. We’re prepared to take this as it comes. Whenever he’s ready, he’s ready, and that’s okay. If that doesn’t mean it’s this year and it’s next year, great. Certainly, we’re trying to push to get him ready now. That’ll always be the goal with these guys.”
0 games played — inactive each week
As most expected, Manu’s rookie season turned out to be a redshirt year. He made the initial 53-man roster, stayed on it all year, but was never part of the active gameday roster.
But that doesn’t mean it was a wasted season. While the media was not privy to Manu’s development in practice from September to January, players and coaches were. And just about everyone raved about the progress he made, as detailed by this excellent piece from Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network. Here are just a few snippets:
Offensive line coach Hank Fraley:
“I liked where he ended last year, where he was with his play, where his...
