1st ever draft pick from UBC, only the 12th player from a Canadian University to be drafted, and he only started playing football in middle school (after moving from Tonga to Canada)
Excited to see him develop.
Most nfl players play flag football, football at recess with their friends, or Pop Warner before the age of 12/13 (most start around 4-6 years old)
He came to Canada (from Tonga) and hadn’t ever played football at any level.
I saw an interview where he said when he moved to Canada, he wanted to play rugby in middle school, but they didn't even have a team. He asked what contact sports he could play, and they said football. He went onto YouTube and watched videos. That was his first exposure to football.
I'd say more than most sports there are a lot of success stories of players who started playing late.
Off the top of my head, Lawrence Taylor didn't start playing until junior year of HS and Antonio Gates never played a down of football until AFTER he finished college. I don't think Patrick Mahomes started playing until high school either.
More common *recently* in football as well. A lot of parents are hesitant to sign kids up for football not just because it’s inherently dangerous but because youth coaches are kind of a grab bag. There’s a higher chance that the pop warner or middle school coach is just some kid’s dad or a gym teacher than the chance of that happening at a high school level. Parents don’t want their kids learning to play the already dangerous sport in unsafe or improper ways.
Kids can still develop athletically and socially in other team based sports that are cheaper and don’t have game times that interfere with NFL programming (because IIRC pop warner normally runs very early Sunday morning/afternoon and if your kid is playing PW there’s a pretty good chance you watch on Sundays.) So even disregarding the player/participant safety issues that are ever prevalent in the minds of younger parents it’s also just a dedicated chunk of time on their day off unless a local middle school has a solid program.
When you follow the NFL from Canada you often want to play for three potential team. Seattle, Detroit, or Buffalo. Only 1 of these border city teams is a tral contender and has good Pizza. He will be happy and thrive here.
I don't know shit about him, but he's a big fucking wall of a person. If Fraley can coach him up and he can learn behind Decker and Sewell, he might be a freight train in cleats.
Pretend? I know him. We were in NYC several years back and I was diverting a missile into the sky but I lost consciousness and started falling. Giovanni jumped about 1,232 ft off the ground, caught me, landed on the side of a building, then jumped back on the road with me. I was still out cold though so he screamed and woke me up. Then we ate some shawarma. He's a huge guy, super athletic, strong, green, and very fast. Great guy and plays very angry, he's perfect fit for us
It's actually crazy how little attention he got leading up to the draft. I didn't even know who he was until the Lions drafted him. The dude is an athletic freak, and he's massive to boot. If he has at least decent fundamentals, then they got an absolute steal.
His fundamentals are pretty bad after watching tape. Like a high schooler awkward planting feet and getting leverage. Gonna be a project type guy for sure.
"overwhelmingly enormous and fast af" feels like continuity for what Sewell is doing on the right side if Decker retires within the next few years and Sewell goes back to the left side
From ESPN:
Pre-Draft Analysis
Manu is a raw offensive tackle prospect with rare size, long arms and good quickness for his size. He didn't play against a high level of competition at the college level, but he is a powerful run blocker who overwhelms defenders on tape. He flashes a strong punch, and his wide frame makes it tough to get around him when he is in pass protection. -- Steve Muench
Richard Sligh, Oakland Raiders, 7’0″
Defensive tackle Richard Sligh was the tallest NFL player in history. Weighing in at 300 pounds, he played eight games for the Raiders but served as a reserve during their loss to the Packers in Super Bowl II.
Dan Skipper, Detroit Lions, 6’10”
Not a Lions fan but needed to come here when I saw the pick. He beat me and our team in the 2016 BC Provincial Championship (State Championship for you Americans). The guy is just bigger faster and stronger than he looks on paper. A good guy, he came over to me and a few of our guys and earnestly congratulated us on getting there and playing hard. You guys got a champ in the making!
The context of this pick -- Holmes traded up to grab a guy who is under the radar and played bad competition -- makes me think that this guy is raw, but has loads of potential to develop into something special and they're aiming to make him Decker's eventual replacement. This year's Brodric Martin. This is the kind of pick you make in the 4th round. Also, 6'8 350 is just impressive.
He was N.C. A&T himself so he probably knows there are tons of uncut gems floating around outside of the big ponds (please ignore that he's taken so many Crimson Tide players for the sake of this example)
Canadian here - this guy is legit, huge, fast, a real athlete.
Canadian University football is obviously a step down from FBS or even FCS. Although UBC is a top tier school in Canada generally thought of as comparable to mid to higher tier Division 2 teams down south.
Would they win the division 2 championship? Probably not. Could they give Colorado school of mines or texas permian a game worth watching? Yes.
If you do watch any clips of him keep in mind hes playing Canadian ball, the field is bigger and the D-Line has to line up a yard back, takes an extra step for the o-line/d-line play to develop thus he will LOOK slower on film.
Sounds like he has good potential, really do not like giving up a future 3rd for him though. I trust our staff though and Dorsey in particular looked very excited so time will tell.
Agree with you. With Brad’s track record and spending of a third next year have to believe they feel this is worth the risk. Hope he can turn into a stud tackle or guard for us.
Last night had a few "that guy could be a sleep hit" that I watched pass by missing the sight of DET in the order. His guy is his guy, going for a developmental player sooner rather than later is smart, it gives us a high ceiling, I'm just an impatient fan who wants trade robberies.
I certainly question the value here trading away a 3rd to get a developmental.guy who might have been there in the 5th. BH seems to be really aggressive to get his guys in the middle rounds. Obviously, we'll have to wait a few years to see if it pans out.
there's also a lot of developmental players in the lower rounds with high potential.
this seems like what that is. this dude has freakish size and athleticism. if they can develop him he doesn't have a ceiling
Yeah anyone expecting him to become a starter is being overly optimistic. Very likely the Lions view him as a swing/depth tackle who can play guard if needed.
Don’t know anything about him. Broderick Martin was the same last year. He sat for a year. Let’s see how Martin does then maybe we will see the vision.
From Dane Brugler's The Beast:
>Werner “Giovanni” Manu was born in Tonga before moving to Canada at age 11. He was a natural at basketball, then started playing football when he attended Pitt Meadows Secondary in 2013. Between his freshman and sophomore years in high school, he grew five inches and put on almost 80 pounds. He continued to play basketball (averaged more than 30 points per game as a senior) but was recruited for football. He enrolled at the University of British Columbia and earned the starting left tackle job as a freshman. He was a four-year starter for the Thunderbirds, also seeing time at guard. His unpolished tendencies are easy to spot on tape — he plays too narrow and off balance in the run game with late hands in pass pro. But he moves really well for his size, especially out in space, and punishes anyone in his way. Overall, Manu isn’t NFL ready, but he is a highly intriguing developmental tackle with rare athletic tools that might get him drafted.
Watched a bit of tape and he looks stiff AF. Reminds me of Broderic Martin where you can watch a few seconds of tape and tell that he’s nowhere near ready for the NFL. Dont like the odds on his success versus any typical third rounder (the pick we gave up for him) but we can re-evaluate in a few years.
He's a "you can't teach size" from Canada, or so I cross my fingers and hope. Him and Broderick are two players that will show how well the Lions S&C team, nutrition, and general coaching and culture can build players up.
Yeah this feels like a Broderick Martin type pick. I know the jury is still out on Martin, but we probably did not need to trade up to get him. Same with this guy, it was a reach, he's not ready to play right now, there were players available who are, next January we're going to be wishing we had drafted a guy who could contribute.
Man remember at the deadline last year when people are like “Brad isn’t going to trade a 3rd round pick lol” and now Brad has traded 3 this off-season
This guy is big tho, so that’s exciting
Trading a 3rd rounder to move up from the 5th to the 4th is gross, but I have faith in Holmes. We needed tackle depth and this guy absolutely has the measurables.
From the Beast
SUMMARY: Werner “Giovanni” Manu was born in Tonga before moving to Canada at age 11. He was a natural at basketball, then started playing football when he
attended Pitt Meadows Secondary in 2013. Between his freshman and sophomore years in high school, he grew five inches and put on almost 80 pounds. He
continued to play basketball (averaged more than 30 points per game as a senior) but was recruited for football. He enrolled at the University of British Columbia and
earned the starting left tackle job as a freshman. He was a four-year starter for the Thunderbirds, also seeing time at guard. His unpolished tendencies are easy to
spot on tape — he plays too narrow and off balance in the run game with late hands in pass pro. But he moves really well for his size, espec ially out in space, and
punishes anyone in his way. Overall, Manu isn’t NFL ready, but he is a highly intriguing developmental tackle with rare athletic tools that might get him drafted.
GRADE: Priority Free Agent
The knock, didn’t compete against elite competition. Well he gets to practice against hutch Houston Davenport cominski and paschal. That ought get him up to speed pretty damn quick.
Yes, you can YouTube his tape, keep in mind with the bigger field, and d-line lined up a yard off the line takes longer to develop and the players look slower due to field size.
I knew the Lions liked him. He was projected to the Lions in several mocks, but always 6th or 7th round.
I have a hard time believing that other teams were getting ready to draft him in the 4th so that we needed to trade a 3rd-rounder to get him, but what do I know.
Beast of a human being for sure. I just hate that we gave up a 3rd for a dude whose tape looks alright against basically low-tier D2 level competition. If anybody can coach him up, it's Fraley.
Nobody even pretend to know anything about him
The guy I wanted all along, obviously.
Yeah, I had him on our board since he was in middle school. Been saying all along “Brad get your guy!”
Understandable since he had to have been over 6ft by middle school
Lol love it
All I know is im a homer. BIGGEST (literally and figuratively) STEAL OF THE DRAFT
Don’t try to tell me I don’t live and breathe British Columbia football
1st ever draft pick from UBC, only the 12th player from a Canadian University to be drafted, and he only started playing football in middle school (after moving from Tonga to Canada) Excited to see him develop.
Tonga? I’m sold.
If he doesn't pan out here, he could just join Tama Tonga in the bloodline ☝🏽
☝️
☝️
My thought exactly.
Is middle school that unusual of a time to start playing football? Do most NFL players start with Pop Warner?
Most nfl players play flag football, football at recess with their friends, or Pop Warner before the age of 12/13 (most start around 4-6 years old) He came to Canada (from Tonga) and hadn’t ever played football at any level.
I saw an interview where he said when he moved to Canada, he wanted to play rugby in middle school, but they didn't even have a team. He asked what contact sports he could play, and they said football. He went onto YouTube and watched videos. That was his first exposure to football.
Oh yeah fair, I guess I was thinking just about organized football.
From the sound of it, he didn’t have any exposure to football at all until 7th grade.
I'd say more than most sports there are a lot of success stories of players who started playing late. Off the top of my head, Lawrence Taylor didn't start playing until junior year of HS and Antonio Gates never played a down of football until AFTER he finished college. I don't think Patrick Mahomes started playing until high school either.
Definitely more common in football for sure.
More common *recently* in football as well. A lot of parents are hesitant to sign kids up for football not just because it’s inherently dangerous but because youth coaches are kind of a grab bag. There’s a higher chance that the pop warner or middle school coach is just some kid’s dad or a gym teacher than the chance of that happening at a high school level. Parents don’t want their kids learning to play the already dangerous sport in unsafe or improper ways. Kids can still develop athletically and socially in other team based sports that are cheaper and don’t have game times that interfere with NFL programming (because IIRC pop warner normally runs very early Sunday morning/afternoon and if your kid is playing PW there’s a pretty good chance you watch on Sundays.) So even disregarding the player/participant safety issues that are ever prevalent in the minds of younger parents it’s also just a dedicated chunk of time on their day off unless a local middle school has a solid program.
Sources? I honestly think most NFL players started in middle school.
When you follow the NFL from Canada you often want to play for three potential team. Seattle, Detroit, or Buffalo. Only 1 of these border city teams is a tral contender and has good Pizza. He will be happy and thrive here.
Most American born kids start playing football in middle school/junior high.
I know of him because I'm Canadian and saw a 'canadian players who could be drafted' list.
Real heads know Qwan’tez Stiggers is gonna be a steal whenever he gets picked
Windsor kid went to Giants
There was a windsor kid in the draft?
Theo Johnson
We had him in for visits - there was buzz.
That doesn’t change the fact that none of us know anything about him
I know he's yuuuuuuuuug
I know his name is Manu so there's that.
We picked him so I know he’s good.
I mean, many of us saw the tapes of his workouts. Dude is a freak of nature. 350lbs and not fat. I figured he might be a 6th or 7th round pickup
I don't know shit about him, but he's a big fucking wall of a person. If Fraley can coach him up and he can learn behind Decker and Sewell, he might be a freight train in cleats.
Pretend? I know him. We were in NYC several years back and I was diverting a missile into the sky but I lost consciousness and started falling. Giovanni jumped about 1,232 ft off the ground, caught me, landed on the side of a building, then jumped back on the road with me. I was still out cold though so he screamed and woke me up. Then we ate some shawarma. He's a huge guy, super athletic, strong, green, and very fast. Great guy and plays very angry, he's perfect fit for us
This is pretty good. Take the upvote.
NFL Network knew about him
Loved how Holmes threw them some credit by texting them congrats on having the tape available.
All I know is that they just drafted the next Anthony Muñoz
Ran a 4.96 40 and was Second Team All Canadian. Anyone know the exchange rate on that?
6’8 350 lbs and he ran a sub 5 40? Holy shit
Right what the hell
6’8 350 and doesn’t have a gut. That shit is crazy
Is that real? Holy fucking shit. Imagine him as swing tackle on trap plays.
[*Sip*](https://media1.tenor.com/m/7OmqyQgsou4AAAAC/adam-cole-keith-lee.gif)
That man can run through walls.
The walls run away from him
He once created a solar eclipse.
If he can't play, give him a Kool aid suit and a job next to Roary.
[удалено]
Best I can do is perennial all pro.
Jesus christ that dude runs under a 5 second 40. That is scary
I'm seeing some reports say 4.96, others say 5.03 Those who say 5.03 have a 1.81 10 yard split. Which is ridiculous for a 350lbs.
It's actually crazy how little attention he got leading up to the draft. I didn't even know who he was until the Lions drafted him. The dude is an athletic freak, and he's massive to boot. If he has at least decent fundamentals, then they got an absolute steal.
His fundamentals are pretty bad after watching tape. Like a high schooler awkward planting feet and getting leverage. Gonna be a project type guy for sure.
2 team all Canadian makes him about 1.46th team all American
This guy conversion rates.
What is that in meters and how many kilos is he?
2.03m and 159kg, eh
Making a Canadian impression this offseason for Holmes, not a bad idea given proximity
bout tree-fiddy
"overwhelmingly enormous and fast af" feels like continuity for what Sewell is doing on the right side if Decker retires within the next few years and Sewell goes back to the left side
This is where we trust brad. He knows how to find these gems
Yep. Zero rush for him to play too. He has a solid year+ to develop. I like it
From ESPN: Pre-Draft Analysis Manu is a raw offensive tackle prospect with rare size, long arms and good quickness for his size. He didn't play against a high level of competition at the college level, but he is a powerful run blocker who overwhelms defenders on tape. He flashes a strong punch, and his wide frame makes it tough to get around him when he is in pass protection. -- Steve Muench
Sounds like a Jumbo tackle similar to what Skipper has been
Only more more raw strength and athleticism than Skipper
And more upside - he was late to start playing football
decker is 6'8"
Jumbo is referring to the formation, not the size of the guy
Works for both.
I always just thought they were being called fat
No shit?
no shit.
I forget how huge these guys are
Dan Skipper is the second tallest NFL player in history.
Richard Sligh, Oakland Raiders, 7’0″ Defensive tackle Richard Sligh was the tallest NFL player in history. Weighing in at 300 pounds, he played eight games for the Raiders but served as a reserve during their loss to the Packers in Super Bowl II. Dan Skipper, Detroit Lions, 6’10”
Sun God better show him where the jugs are also.
That feels spot on.
Gibbs just made a new friend.
He's gonna line up at FB and throw Gibbs over the line so he starts all his runs at the 2nd level.
Ben Johnson's going to call it the Gibbs rocket launcher or GRL.
I saw a tiktok where they said he was climbing up boards because of how athletic he was during workouts.
Holy fuck. 6’8”, 350 pounds??? https://preview.redd.it/e9zvhi3g52xc1.jpeg?width=1029&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=449f44eebfe6b2510939054485707173865c9f96
Sub-5 40.
Not a Lions fan but needed to come here when I saw the pick. He beat me and our team in the 2016 BC Provincial Championship (State Championship for you Americans). The guy is just bigger faster and stronger than he looks on paper. A good guy, he came over to me and a few of our guys and earnestly congratulated us on getting there and playing hard. You guys got a champ in the making!
Sounds like a Dan Campbell type of guy!
Trench Warfare, lets fucking go.
Not sure this guy would fit in a trench.
The context of this pick -- Holmes traded up to grab a guy who is under the radar and played bad competition -- makes me think that this guy is raw, but has loads of potential to develop into something special and they're aiming to make him Decker's eventual replacement. This year's Brodric Martin. This is the kind of pick you make in the 4th round. Also, 6'8 350 is just impressive.
6'8 350 with a sub 5 40 yard dash that is...just insane
Traded up to pick 364 days early
He gets to sit and learn behind two of the best tackles in the league which is important as well
As someone from BC this is nuts
As someone from NB this is nuts! I hope he crushes it and has a great career
My erection is reporting as eligible.
Get ready to learn American buddy
I'm not your buddy guy! 
Classic Brad picking from a no name school or British Colombia in this example.
He was N.C. A&T himself so he probably knows there are tons of uncut gems floating around outside of the big ponds (please ignore that he's taken so many Crimson Tide players for the sake of this example)
Canadian here - this guy is legit, huge, fast, a real athlete. Canadian University football is obviously a step down from FBS or even FCS. Although UBC is a top tier school in Canada generally thought of as comparable to mid to higher tier Division 2 teams down south. Would they win the division 2 championship? Probably not. Could they give Colorado school of mines or texas permian a game worth watching? Yes. If you do watch any clips of him keep in mind hes playing Canadian ball, the field is bigger and the D-Line has to line up a yard back, takes an extra step for the o-line/d-line play to develop thus he will LOOK slower on film.
Welcome to MAN University, NFL.
As a Canadian living in BC, I love this. That’s a big boy
Our new fullback.
He's got a basketball background. Wonder how many times he'll report as eligible this year?
Sounds like he has good potential, really do not like giving up a future 3rd for him though. I trust our staff though and Dorsey in particular looked very excited so time will tell.
Agree with you. With Brad’s track record and spending of a third next year have to believe they feel this is worth the risk. Hope he can turn into a stud tackle or guard for us.
Last night had a few "that guy could be a sleep hit" that I watched pass by missing the sight of DET in the order. His guy is his guy, going for a developmental player sooner rather than later is smart, it gives us a high ceiling, I'm just an impatient fan who wants trade robberies.
I certainly question the value here trading away a 3rd to get a developmental.guy who might have been there in the 5th. BH seems to be really aggressive to get his guys in the middle rounds. Obviously, we'll have to wait a few years to see if it pans out.
Holmes has a high level of confidence in his own evaluations, it seems. Can't fault the guy so far, but it looks scary sometimes lol
depth at tackle is welcomed
Probably Decker's replacement. Give him a year to develop. They didn't give up a lot. Not complaining
You can't count on a 4th rounder to be Decker's replacement. He's more than likely a skipper replacement.
We'll see. Brad seemed eager to go get him. Time will tell
He has potential but when you're talking day 3 you're lucky if the players are good backups
there's also a lot of developmental players in the lower rounds with high potential. this seems like what that is. this dude has freakish size and athleticism. if they can develop him he doesn't have a ceiling
Yeah anyone expecting him to become a starter is being overly optimistic. Very likely the Lions view him as a swing/depth tackle who can play guard if needed.
At his height he's not playing guard unless it's a emergency
Dan Skipper is 6’10 and has played a lot of guard the past 2 years
Giving up a 3rd for an international player is huge
They got a 4th in return. They basically traded down 1 round to get the pick this year instead of next year.
They got a 4th? The espn post must be wrong then
He means the 4th is this pick
Yes lol literally the one we used
Yeah. Jets get lions 3rd next year, lions get jets 4th this year
Gotcha. A 3rd is still big. We got a starting corner for a 3rd in free agency.
They swapped a 3rd for a 4th ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ to get it a year early
yea we used the 4th on this guy
This pick is the 4th
That’s the hope. this guy is a total project could be a future starter could just as easily do nothing
Pretty much nothing. Gave up a third rounder next year and should get a comp pick for Jonah to replace it.
He's more likely Sewell's replacement at RT and Sewell is Decker's replacement
Did they seriously draft Godzilla to play OT? Good grief that dude is HUGE. 
I went to highschool with him it’s crazy to see him get drafted now. Hope he turns into a full time guy
Some of yall still questioning draft picks are wild. I think front office knows better than we do what is needed.
Don’t know anything about him. Broderick Martin was the same last year. He sat for a year. Let’s see how Martin does then maybe we will see the vision.
He ran a 4.9 40 lol
Damn a third rd pick tho, we really couldnt get him in the 5th
From Dane Brugler's The Beast: >Werner “Giovanni” Manu was born in Tonga before moving to Canada at age 11. He was a natural at basketball, then started playing football when he attended Pitt Meadows Secondary in 2013. Between his freshman and sophomore years in high school, he grew five inches and put on almost 80 pounds. He continued to play basketball (averaged more than 30 points per game as a senior) but was recruited for football. He enrolled at the University of British Columbia and earned the starting left tackle job as a freshman. He was a four-year starter for the Thunderbirds, also seeing time at guard. His unpolished tendencies are easy to spot on tape — he plays too narrow and off balance in the run game with late hands in pass pro. But he moves really well for his size, especially out in space, and punishes anyone in his way. Overall, Manu isn’t NFL ready, but he is a highly intriguing developmental tackle with rare athletic tools that might get him drafted.
Watched a bit of tape and he looks stiff AF. Reminds me of Broderic Martin where you can watch a few seconds of tape and tell that he’s nowhere near ready for the NFL. Dont like the odds on his success versus any typical third rounder (the pick we gave up for him) but we can re-evaluate in a few years.
He's a "you can't teach size" from Canada, or so I cross my fingers and hope. Him and Broderick are two players that will show how well the Lions S&C team, nutrition, and general coaching and culture can build players up.
Yeah this feels like a Broderick Martin type pick. I know the jury is still out on Martin, but we probably did not need to trade up to get him. Same with this guy, it was a reach, he's not ready to play right now, there were players available who are, next January we're going to be wishing we had drafted a guy who could contribute.
I'm just hoping Fraley is stupid high on the kid and thinks he can mold him. Even so, a 3rd for a player like this is crazy.
Lol where’s that guy who was complaining about no 4th?
He has slid over to complaining about no 3rd next year.
I have totally heard of this guy, and I know everything about him to know he's a future HOFer
Dan Skipper kind of guy
Man remember at the deadline last year when people are like “Brad isn’t going to trade a 3rd round pick lol” and now Brad has traded 3 this off-season This guy is big tho, so that’s exciting
Not gonna act like this doesn’t feel like Colby Sorsdal Broderick Martin again but hey, I’m not the GM
Trading a 3rd rounder to move up from the 5th to the 4th is gross, but I have faith in Holmes. We needed tackle depth and this guy absolutely has the measurables.
We kept the 5th I thought?
I thought I read a tweet saying we gave up 164. Ill go recheck EDIT: You are correct, the original person misquoted.
We kept the 5th at least
he’s a dawg, let him develop
Would've preferred interior OL, but I'm happy for the depth nonetheless.
Agreed. I laughed when the tv said wr or edge is our need. No, oline depth is ours.
All I want is one trick play where he catches the ball, and dares an MF to tackle him
Say goodbye to his knees/ankles lol
Hank Fraley and Dan Campbell are going to make a star out of this guy
I watched this guy dominate in the Can West all season last year, phenomenal player. Y'all got a good one!
What does Brad Holmes have against 3rd round picks?
Allergic
High upside development prospect with freak measurable. I’m good with it.
Get ready to learn All-Pro buddy
Honestly, these later rounds picks just tell me Brad thinks his roster is solid now.
Hopefully not Obinna Eze 2.0
We should pay his salary in Canadian dollars and save ourselves some money.
He doesn’t seem well know. He probably would have been there later. We shouldn’t have traded up.
Good ol' Canadian boy.
What a monster. Hope this dude grows into something for us!
6'7", 350 is an absolutely ridiculous for a human being and I love it
Our Oline + coaches are gonna turn this guy into a fucking mauler
From the Beast SUMMARY: Werner “Giovanni” Manu was born in Tonga before moving to Canada at age 11. He was a natural at basketball, then started playing football when he attended Pitt Meadows Secondary in 2013. Between his freshman and sophomore years in high school, he grew five inches and put on almost 80 pounds. He continued to play basketball (averaged more than 30 points per game as a senior) but was recruited for football. He enrolled at the University of British Columbia and earned the starting left tackle job as a freshman. He was a four-year starter for the Thunderbirds, also seeing time at guard. His unpolished tendencies are easy to spot on tape — he plays too narrow and off balance in the run game with late hands in pass pro. But he moves really well for his size, espec ially out in space, and punishes anyone in his way. Overall, Manu isn’t NFL ready, but he is a highly intriguing developmental tackle with rare athletic tools that might get him drafted. GRADE: Priority Free Agent
not itt: everyone who thought we didnt pick in the 4th
Jordan Mailata 2.0? Guess we'll find out. Gonna have to bear with his growing pains.
The knock, didn’t compete against elite competition. Well he gets to practice against hutch Houston Davenport cominski and paschal. That ought get him up to speed pretty damn quick.
On the clock again boys!
Love the pick. Sewell will build him up.
This is a stupid question, but do they play Canadian football in college?
Yes, you can YouTube his tape, keep in mind with the bigger field, and d-line lined up a yard off the line takes longer to develop and the players look slower due to field size.
I have a friend who writes online about the nfl draft texted me how perfect this guy would be on the lions 2 weeks ago. I am impressed.
A reach, perhaps…, but, you can’t teach size, which he has.
I like it. You can’t teach tall.
A Manu among Meno.
Never heard of him. He’ll probably move to guard
I knew the Lions liked him. He was projected to the Lions in several mocks, but always 6th or 7th round. I have a hard time believing that other teams were getting ready to draft him in the 4th so that we needed to trade a 3rd-rounder to get him, but what do I know.
Week 1 can't come fast enough; this team is gonna be fun as FUCK to watch!
Beast of a human being for sure. I just hate that we gave up a 3rd for a dude whose tape looks alright against basically low-tier D2 level competition. If anybody can coach him up, it's Fraley.
This dude standing next to skip... I need that photo.
This one i really don’t expect to work out but i hope to be wrong
You also forgot to mention that he ran a 5 second 40. Which is blazing for an o lineman and even more impressive because of how big he is.
Looking forward to seeing Manu and 6’9” Skip together on the line.
With the 126th pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions select an industrial refrigerator (compliment)