Breaking down the Detroit Lions ongoing camp battles for offensive line depth roster spots

Colby Sorsdal has grown into the No. 3 tackle role after an abortive attempt to turn him into a guard as a rookie in 2023. He’s played tackle exclusively all offseason and has shown more positives than negatives, though Sorsdal has his struggles with quickness off the snap. He’s no longer got the flowing mane of hair, and he’s also lost a little of the loose weight in his upper body.

Of all the players fighting for depth spots on the offensive line, Sorsdal is the one I’m most confident in making the 53-man roster.

Michael Niese had a quietly impressive week in the padded practices, playing center and guard with the second team, mostly at center. Starting left guard Graham Glasgow is the top backup center behind All-Pro Frank Ragnow, but Niese can offer the ability to keep four of the five starters in their top positions instead of shuffling. That’s something I have been led to believe the Lions do find more appealing than at this time last year.

Awosika is a veteran with two full years of experience in OL coach Hank Fraley’s gap-based system, including three starts at left guard last year. He also played extensively in the postseason games against the Buccaneers and 49ers, though he didn’t exactly play well in those games with PFF scores below 54.

It’s difficult to see the Lions cutting Awosika, but he’s struggled all summer in pass protection before missing the last few practices with an undisclosed injury. He’s been at guard all summer after getting at least token reps at tackle in last year’s training camp. Availability is important for Awosika; his absence has opened the door for legit competition for his job.

Since joining the Lions after camp started, Boettger handled himself capably on the second-team offense while working at right tackle late in the practice week. He’s got legit starting experience with the Bills and appears fully recovered from a torn Achilles that wiped out his 2023 campaign with the Colts. I consider Boettger player No. 54 of 53 as the Lions hit the preseason circuit. His experience and Iowa connections with so many Detroit teammates give him considerable opportunity to move up.

Skipper is a well-deserved fan favorite and the best extra OL in the league. He can also play both guard and tackle, though he’s worked only at tackle this summer. And that work has not been impressive, to be respectful to the veteran Skipper. At 6-foot-10, Skipper often extends past the point of diminished returns for length.

The Lions cut him at the roster deadline last year with the explicit intent of bringing him back, and I believe that’s what will happen in 2024, too. There’s major value in the physical edge and combative nature he brings to the team, even if it’s from the practice squad to start the year.

Mahogany brought a lot of excitement as a sixth-round draft pick from Boston College known for his outstanding strength and proud “dirt bag” mentality. Unfortunately, the rookie remains away from the team due to illness. If he doesn’t return before the second preseason game–and that’s a distinct possibility–I would expect Mahogany to open the season on the reserve list. His unfortunate absence shakes up the entire interior projection; if Mahogany were healthy, there is zero doubt he would make the team as an understudy to Zeitler.

The fourth-round rookie was drafted as a developmental project with amazing athletic potential. He’s one of the most physically impressive players in camp, with sculpted tree trunks for legs and twitchy movement skills. However, it’s been striking just how far away from being ready to play Manu truly is at this point. His limited experience at the Canadian college level, which is roughly akin to D-III ball, is readily evident. There have been reps in every single practice session that make you wonder if Manu has ever played football before. Jake Burton proved far more capable than Manu in all phases of blocking in his very first (and thus far only) practice in Detroit.

I can’t imagine the Lions cutting Manu and risking losing someone with that much upside to another team’s waiver claim, but I also can’t envision anyone who has watched him play claiming him to an active roster and telling another player who initially made it that they’re out. Preseason reps are vital for Manu.

Connor Galvin has been better than both Manu and Skipper in padded practices at tackle, especially left tackle. What’s more notable about Galvin is his progress in the run game, where he was often underpowered as an undrafted rookie in the summer of 2023. He’s developed his lower-body strength and power technique.

Given the scarcity of quality young tackles around the league, I do strongly believe another team would poach the 6-foot-9 Galvin if the Lions do waive him. Could that be enough impetus to keep him around? We’ll know the answer to that after a couple of preseason games.

The trio of undrafted rookies has sorted itself a bit after a week in pads. Kingsley Eguakun has stepped ahead of Bryan Hudson and Duke Clemens, all of whom play both guard and center. Even Eguakun is a longshot to make the 53-man roster, but he’s proven worthy of paying to keep on the practice squad and developing. In my eyes, Clemens is clinging to the very last spot on the 90-man roster right now despite some decent work in the run game on the third-team offense.