Tim Twentyman

When the Detroit Lions traded a third-round pick in this year's NFL Draft to move up from the fifth round to the fourth round in last year's draft to select offensive tackle Giovanni Manu, they knew they were getting a developmental player.

The Lions, like several other teams in the pre-draft process last year, really liked Manu's physical traits (6-foot-7, 354 pounds), athletic ability and upside. But coming from the Canadian game at the University of British Columbia, teams knew it was going to take some time for him to adjust to the speed and physicality at this level.

"I think the mental aspect of the game was the most important part for him because physically that man is gifted in every way, in my opinion," Lions All-Pro right tacklePenei Sewellsaid of Manu on the Twentyman in the Huddlepodcastback in January.

Manu was inactive every game last season for Detroit as the team embraced the fact that his rookie year was going to essentially be a redshirt season.

As it does for most rookies, the game started to slow down for Manu by the end of the season as he worked hard behind the scenes for Detroit's scout team.

"If you watched the film of Gio in OTAs and you watched the film of Gio in practice (at the end of the year), it really was night and day," Lions general manager Brad Holmes said after the season. "That's credit to Hank (Fraley) and Steve Oliver and all those guys just working with him and a credit to him because he was conscious that he improve."

The Lions boast one of the best offensive lines in football with three Pro Bowl players centerFrank Ragnow, left tackleTaylor Deckerand right tackle Sewell returning this season. But there is a bit of a question mark regarding what the two guard spots might look with veteran Kevin Zeitler departing in free agency.

Detroit values position versatility and they were already cross-training Manu to play right tackle to possibly compete withDan Skipperfor the swing tackle role this season. Now, they might throw Manu's name into the mix at guard too.

When answering a question about veteran guardGraham Glasgowat last week's Annual League Meetings, Campbell hinted at trying out Manu at the position.

"Man, we've talked about that. Do you go back to right (with Glasgow), you know? And is it (Christian) Mahogany left? Is it somebody we drafted? You're gonna do your best to let these guys compete and see where they're at.

"I mean, do we try Manu at guard? That's a thought. So, we're gonna try to let these guys compete a little bit and move them around and see what's right and see where we're at. It's not going to be set in stone."

Campbell said Manu played some scout team guard last season but it wasn't a lot. He said moving Manu there more permanently to compete would be a bit of a leap of faith.

"Push those reps and see if he can grow from them," Campbell said. "Do you do that or keep him outside? Those are just some of the thoughts that I've had, and we've had."

The Lions begin Phase One of the of the offseason training program later this month and are required to open one of every three OTA practices starting in May to the media. We'll see then what the Lions do with Manu and where they see him competing the most for a playing role in 2025.