The Detroit Lions moved up in the sixth round and selected DT Mekhi Wingo—arguably one of the biggest steals of Day 3.
The Detroit Lions moved up 16 spots in the sixth round to select LSU defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo.
Detroit traded with the Texans , giving up their sole seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft . Here are the full terms of the trade:
Lions get:
– Pick 189 (sixth rounder)
Texans get:
- Pick 205 (sixth rounder)
- Pick 249 (seventh rounder)
Wingo is a player who is all things Dan Campbell. He measured out as a Tier 1 (highest tier) on our Grit Index , and here is just a sampling of what makes him special, per Dane Brugler’s draft guide:
“His coaches rave about his work/practice habits (his work ethic earned him the 2022 “Iron Tiger” Award) … instead of packing it in and preparing for the NFL Draft, he rehabbed his “ass off” to return for LSU’s 2023 bowl game”
At 6-foot, but only 284 pounds, Wingo is pretty undersized for a defensive tackle, but projects to be a three-tech at the next level. He’ll get to grow under the tutelage of Detroit’s powerful duo there now: DJ Reader and Alim McNeill. He will also compete for a roster spot with the likes of Levi Onwuzurike.
That said, Wingo was projected to go significantly higher than he did. He was the 95th best prospect on Brugler’s Big Board, Lance Zierlein had him with a fourth-round grade , and ESPN Joe Reid had him 90th. If the media is right on this guy, the Lions may have just gotten their best value pick of the draft.
The Lions only have one remaining pick in the draft: a sixth-rounder—210 overall. So far they have made a total of five selections.
Lions picks thus far
- Round 1, Pick 24 — CB Terrion Arnold
- Round 2, Pick 61 — CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
- Round 4, Pick 126 — OT Giovanni Manu
- Round 4, Pick 132 — RB/S Sione Vaki
Lions remaining picks
- Round 6, Pick 24 (210 overall)
Top remaining needs for Lions:
- Safety
- Wide receiver
CornerbackOffensive lineDefensive tackle- Defensive end
- Kicker
NFL Draft schedule
Day 3
What: Rounds 4-7
When: Saturday, April 27 — Noon ET until around 7 p.m. ET
TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network
Online streaming: ESPN app, NFL Plus, ABC
Odds: DraftKings Sportsbook