Sometimes when you get to the NFL, teams find out that you're better suited in a different situation. That looks like it could potentially be the case for Lions' sixth-round pick Mekhi Wingo.
Going into the 2024 NFL draft, Wingo was expected to go a lot higher than the sixth-round. Part of the problem was that he suffered a lower body injury during the season, but he did make it back for the Tigers' bowl game. The other thing is that he was a bit undersized at defensive tackle.
Despite being undersized, Wingo showed a lot of pass rush juice from the middle during his time at LSU and once he came out in the draft, there was some thought that maybe Wingo could be better on the outside as a pass rushing defensive end.
Then during OTAs and minicamp, Lions' head coach Dan Campbell seemed to confirm that notion when he said the Lions were trying him there when he was asked about Levi Onwuzurkie's ability to play outside.
“Yes, but also – I mean we’re doing it with Wingo too. (Lions Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach) Terrell (Williams)’s done a great job and (Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn) AG of – man, the more flexibility we have up front, that helps us on gameday. So, even – and I know Wingo’s a young guy but he’s one, Levi’s one – put him outside at the big end on some things. And so, the more we can do with those, they just do, they allow you to bring one less, if you need to, up front because those guys can do multiple jobs.”
So there's that. The other thing is that Wingo spent time at the BT Jordan Pass Rush Retreat this week to work on pass rush skills. There were some defensive tackles in the building, but it was overwhelmingly edge rushers at this camp.
Wingo also looks to have dropped a little weight as well. Typically guys will do that when they want to be more fluid with their pass rush.
Now that the Lions are missing John Cominsky and are expected to be without Marcus Davenport for the rest of the year, this could be the perfect time for the Lions to follow through on this move.
Wingo has been in for the Lions this season and he's played more snaps in each game. On Sunday he he had a pretty nice game against the Cardinals and got two pressures and two hurries.
He's got the speed and athleticism that could help him get around the edge. The Lions should be looking to try that out a little now that they need to fill in a hole.
