Third trade of the day nets Lions LSU defender Mekhi Wingo in sixth round

Allen Park — For the fourth time in the 2024 NFL Draft, and the third time on Saturday afternoon, the Detroit Lions traded up to land a prospect target.

Sending an additional late seventh-rounder to the Houston Texans (No. 249), the Lions climbed 16 spots in the sixth round to snag LSU defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo at No. 189 overall.

An undersized interior lineman, Wingo measured in at 6-foot, 284 pounds at the scouting combine. What he lacks in height and weight, he makes up for in strength and athleticism, posting one of the fastest 40 times and best vertical jumps at his position in this draft class.

Appearing in 34 games between Missouri and LSU the past three seasons, Wingo got the starting nod 24 times. Despite playing in just eight contests last season due to a groin injury, he recorded a personal-best five sacks, while providing steady reliability for the Tigers as a run defender.

"To make up for the lack of size I have to do the ordinary things extraordinarily," Wingo said. "I've been undersized my whole life. It's nothing that just happened. I just need to continue to work with the habits I work with now and hopefully it will lead me to have a successful career."

A leader on and off the field, Wingo was both a team captain and member of the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council. Ahead of the 2023 season, he was awarded the prestigious honor of wearing the school's No. 18 jersey.

“The No. 18 has great historical significance with our program," LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “It’s a number that has national championship significance with Matt Mauck wearing it in 2003 and leading LSU to its first national title since 1958. He passed it on to Jacob Hester who won a national championship in 2007. … It’s worn by a player who represents the traits and spirit associated with a successful program, and that’s Mekhi."

Wingo's football character was further solidified by his rehab efforts to return following surgery last season and appear in the team's bowl game.

"That's the type of guy I am," Wingo said. "Being that No. 18, being that leader, I had the injury early in the year and didn't feel like I got my full (No.) 18 season. Of course, I could have just packed it up, declared (for the draft) and get to this, but it really got to me watching my team lose a few games with me being on the sideline. Once I had my surgery, I really rehabbed my butt off and making it an emphasis to get back on the field to be with my guys one last time."

The move to get Wingo was general manager Brad Holmes' third pick swap Saturday, following deals to land offensive tackle Giovanni Manu and running back/safety Sione Vaki, both in the fourth round. The team also moved up five spots on Thursday to secure Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold in the first round.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

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