Taylor Decker is stepping into a mentor role this offseason—and he’s bringing young lineman Giovanni Manu along for the ride.
The veteran left tackle has been putting in work at AMDG Performance in Arizona, where he normally trains during the offseason. This time, he’s joined by Manu, the Lions’ 2024 fourth-round pick who’s still developing after a raw but promising rookie year. At 6’7″, 352 pounds and clocking a 5.06 40-yard dash, Manu came into the league with freakish traits but very little polish.
According to GM Brad Holmes, the difference in Manu’s practice tape from OTAs to the end of the year was “night and day,” thanks to the coaching staff and the rookie’s own drive to improve.
This is exactly what head coach Dan Campbell envisioned when he talked about players leading players. Decker is living that out, helping groom the next wave of talent as the Lions gear up for another big season. If Manu can keep building on his potential, this kind of mentorship could end up being a huge win for Detroit’s offensive line depth.
Building the Trenches: Decker Supports Manu’s Development This Offseason
