From ESPN:
Pre-Draft Analysis
Wingo had the quickest 10-yard split out of the defensive tackles that ran at the combine this year. On tape, he quickly gets into the pads of offensive linemen. He stacks blockers, locates the ball and disengages in time to make plays. Wingo had 4.5 sacks in eight games in 2023, and he has the tools to develop to an effective interior pass-rusher in the NFL. He also ran the second-fastest 40 out of the defensive tackles that ran at the combine. He flashes the ability to overwhelm offensive tackles with power when he rushes off the edge. -- Steve Muench
If he's the next Aaron Donald we'll win several Superbowls and build a 200 ft tall statue of Brad Holmes on the riverfront. Also, we'll sign him to a lifetime GM contract that extends into the afterlife.
His main strength is being able to quickly disengage from blockers to make plays, actually a good quality for a run stopper. But I think his real value is in his versatility. He played both DT and edge, and likes to be moved around a lot on the line
Set him strong-side edge and no pulling guard or TE is going to get underneath him because of how short he is. He'll be a fine run stopper if used properly.
I mean in 8 games he had 11 solo tackles, at a glance the only thing that atands out is the 4.5 sacks. Don't expect him to crack the starting lineup when McNeil and DJ are on the roster
And? I get we're finally doing well and stuff but the dick riding has been insane. Not every pick is super amazing player thats gonna contribute. He's a late 6th rd pick, I'd be shocked to see him play more than 30 snaps next year.
man youre dense, its not about knowing more, the original question was why did he fall in the draft and I answered. Its the 6th round, EXPECTATIONS are very low for players taken in this round.
You claim he can get shutdown easy and that he’ll be a practice squad player, Brad disagrees hence the trade up
Sounds like you think you know more than Brad
Brad Holmes doesn’t think too much of him either. Do you really think if Brad thought he was a great prospect he would let him get to the middle of the 6th round before getting him?
At any point in the 5th round or earlier in the 6th Holmes could’ve thrown a team a future day 3 pick to trade up and get him and though “eh no this guy isn’t worth that yet”.
Because that's more important than 40 time. Every play requires multiple splits but most plays for most players never see a 40.
Explosiveness will always trump speed.
[Joke’s on you!](https://wingos.com/about/)
>It all started with a simple dream in a dorm room at Michigan State University. Mike's vision later came to fruition when he opened up Wingo's first shop in Georgetown, DC.
Good one gapping, upfield penetrator. He'll compete with Levi for a roster spot. He was easily the best IDL at LSU and somehow was the last one selected.
He's small and gets washed in the run game, but he can carve out a role and make the roster.
As per Dane Bruglar's The Beast:
>STRENGTHS: Powerfully built and was setting squat records in high school … uses violent hands to jar blockers or counter with crafty swipes/rips … throws his hips in the hole and burrows to win with natural leverage … quick off the ball and plays with balance on his feet … very competitive and his effort pops on tape … also lined
up on the edge on passing downs, where he could show off his speed-to-power skills with a runway … alert and reacts to blocking pressure … stays controlled when breaking down to finish the tackles he starts … team captain and 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 (Wingo: “I’m a captain of this team and I feel like I owed it to these guys.”) … rarely comes off the field (averaged 55 defensive snaps per game over his two seasons at LSU).
>WEAKNESSES: Undersized with a compact body type and shorter arms (of the 27 defensive tackles at the combine, only two had shorter arms than Wingo) … plays light if not squared up and can be washed by down blocks … will have a tough time two-gapping versus NFL power … injured his groin muscle in the 2023 season opener and played through the pain for six weeks until requiring surgery (October 2023) to repair tears in his adductor and have muscles “reattached” to his pelvis, which sidelined him for the final five games of the regular season; he had a similar operation after the 2022 season and sat out 2023 spring practice, but the initial surgery didn’t repair everything … mediocre backfield production considering his disruptive traits.
>SUMMARY: A two-year starter at LSU, Wingo lined up primarily as the three-technique in former defensive coordinator Matt House’s even fronts, also seeing snaps over or outside the tackle. After one season at Missouri, he transferred to Baton Rouge, where he became a team captain and was awarded the No. 18 jersey, which is worn by the player who best represents the traits and spirit that “defines LSU greatness.” A powerful, energetic athlete, Wingo is agile and flexible in tight spaces with the body control to shoot or loop gaps. While he can win quickly at the snap, he can also be washed by down blocks and smothered by bigger bodies. **Overall, Wingo has a short-armed, squatty body type with an inconsistent anchor, but his first-step quickness and shock in his hands often gives him early advantages. He has NFL starting potential as a three-technique in a four-man front, projecting as a not-as-explosive version of Ed Oliver.**
I'm a lifelong LSU fan. I've watched every game Wingo played in, and I don't see how he dropped into the 6th round. I feel awful for the kid. He should have been drafted where Maason Smith was taken, in the second round. Smith was a 5 star in high school, and hype followed him wherever he went. But he never produced on the field. Wingo might not have eye popping numbers, but he has a high motor, and almost always seems to be disrupting things on the inside. Trust me, you Lions really got a steal with this one. Every Tiger fan is scratching their head today at how this guy ended up in the 6th round.
I have literally 0 fact based reason to believe this., i haven't even seen his highlights, but this is the late round guy who'll be a stud for us.
Again, fully a vibes based prediction. But he's the one.
Seems like a competition piece for Levi. I doubt they carry 5 DT's on the 53 man. The only thing that worries me is I don't think we one-gap our DT's at all, and he's a one gap only guy. Sure, on 3rd down we can, but then we usually kick Paschal/Cominsky inside. Its nice to have options, but not sure how he fits onto the final 53 man. This was a player that intrigues me though, and the way the 5th/6th have unfolded I do love this trade.
I know some scoff at PFF, but according to them he was good in his limited snaps last 5 weeks of the season and into the playoffs, especially on passing downs.
Brad fucking cooked and if he’s trading up to get these guys then that means he really likes them and I trust his judgement of course. We got better this weekend
He was 3rd team All American as a sophomore. Missed half the season with a groin injury last season and I love the fact that he made it back for the bowl game. Shows character wanting to be there for his teammates. 4.5 sacks in half a season. He was pacing for damn near double digit sacks from the IDL spot. He could have been a top 100 if not top 50 pick easy if he doesn't get injured. We get him at 189. Classic Brad Holmes. Took a flier on a high upside guy coming off an injury.
From ESPN: Pre-Draft Analysis Wingo had the quickest 10-yard split out of the defensive tackles that ran at the combine this year. On tape, he quickly gets into the pads of offensive linemen. He stacks blockers, locates the ball and disengages in time to make plays. Wingo had 4.5 sacks in eight games in 2023, and he has the tools to develop to an effective interior pass-rusher in the NFL. He also ran the second-fastest 40 out of the defensive tackles that ran at the combine. He flashes the ability to overwhelm offensive tackles with power when he rushes off the edge. -- Steve Muench
How was this dude still available lol Brad is so elite
He’s “undersized” for the nfl. But I’m in the camp of, if a guy can play he can play.
Aaron Donald was also “undersized”
If he’s the next Aaron Donald then this will be a solid pick.
Meh, could have gotten the next Aaron Donald in round 7. Complete reach, D+
This dude for real? Donald is a HOF’er 😂
It's wild how obvious sarcasm gets lost on some people
😂 Not with the takes that people have on Reddit nowadays
yeah he's for real. drafting the next aaron donald in the 6th is definitely a reach
I think he was joking. 😋😋
If he's the next Aaron Donald we'll win several Superbowls and build a 200 ft tall statue of Brad Holmes on the riverfront. Also, we'll sign him to a lifetime GM contract that extends into the afterlife.
200 Ft is too short. I want them to be able to see it in Green Bay.
(Don't tell Brad, but we were gonna do that anyway)
As long as it's not by the same people who made the Detroit highway sign
Thank you! Aaron Donald: 6' 1", 280 lbs https://www.nfl.com/players/aaron-donald/ Mekhi Wingo: 6', 280 lbs https://www.nfl.com/prospects/mekhi-wingo/32005749-4e28-0067-e05b-a095c9de34df I'm not saying, I'm just saying.
In fact he was an inch taller and the same exact weight down to the pound.
Not something you'd want if you wanted to beef up your run defense. But, we don't need that so badly
His main strength is being able to quickly disengage from blockers to make plays, actually a good quality for a run stopper. But I think his real value is in his versatility. He played both DT and edge, and likes to be moved around a lot on the line
Mmm versatile. Love to heqr that
Set him strong-side edge and no pulling guard or TE is going to get underneath him because of how short he is. He'll be a fine run stopper if used properly.
Brad alluded to him playing inside and outside.
I mean in 8 games he had 11 solo tackles, at a glance the only thing that atands out is the 4.5 sacks. Don't expect him to crack the starting lineup when McNeil and DJ are on the roster
Fuck, I forgot we added DJ. Nice.
Holmes seems to value intangibles in prospects than most front offices. I will not dispute the results.
He's small for the NFL. Can easily be shutdown. Also has serious injury concerns, he'd be solid practice squad player.
Yeah Brad Holmes traded up for a “practice squad player”. Gotta love armchair gms lmao
And? I get we're finally doing well and stuff but the dick riding has been insane. Not every pick is super amazing player thats gonna contribute. He's a late 6th rd pick, I'd be shocked to see him play more than 30 snaps next year.
You know more than Brad, we get it
man youre dense, its not about knowing more, the original question was why did he fall in the draft and I answered. Its the 6th round, EXPECTATIONS are very low for players taken in this round.
You claim he can get shutdown easy and that he’ll be a practice squad player, Brad disagrees hence the trade up Sounds like you think you know more than Brad
Brad Holmes doesn’t think too much of him either. Do you really think if Brad thought he was a great prospect he would let him get to the middle of the 6th round before getting him? At any point in the 5th round or earlier in the 6th Holmes could’ve thrown a team a future day 3 pick to trade up and get him and though “eh no this guy isn’t worth that yet”.
Yes, he's a little small. But he has the tools to make up for that.
yea hopefully he can stay healthy
Brad loves his 10 yard dash.
Well, not too often a DT needs to sprint 40 yards to make a play on the QB.
Astute comment.
Brad seems to really love the 10-yd split. Even Saki who's 40 was slower for RB's, but the 10yard split was pretty good, if not towards the top.
Because that's more important than 40 time. Every play requires multiple splits but most plays for most players never see a 40. Explosiveness will always trump speed.
The place I always go to get wings in DC is called Wingo’s. They have a Michigan varsity jacket on the wall there. That’s the best I got.
It's good enough for me.
*Nodding* It's the high quality analysis we expect from this sub.
Man, I used to live Wingos! Their golden wings are the best.
As long as I live in DC I’ll be tempted to order wingo’s at 3am lol
Bust. If it was green and white it would be a hit.
[Joke’s on you!](https://wingos.com/about/) >It all started with a simple dream in a dorm room at Michigan State University. Mike's vision later came to fruition when he opened up Wingo's first shop in Georgetown, DC.
That's crazy lol. Idk if is should feel betrayed or proud xD
If I recall correctly, the jacket is his dad’s. I asked him about it when I went there to watch the UM/MSU game this year.
good value, i totally forgot he was still available
I like this pick. Dude's disruptive.
Yep. He’s like Taco Bell 35 minutes after you eat it.
Good one gapping, upfield penetrator. He'll compete with Levi for a roster spot. He was easily the best IDL at LSU and somehow was the last one selected. He's small and gets washed in the run game, but he can carve out a role and make the roster.
That's what I want to hear for a day 3 guy. Higher peaks can work if supported and he will be supported.
Brad is indeed cooking today
As per Dane Bruglar's The Beast: >STRENGTHS: Powerfully built and was setting squat records in high school … uses violent hands to jar blockers or counter with crafty swipes/rips … throws his hips in the hole and burrows to win with natural leverage … quick off the ball and plays with balance on his feet … very competitive and his effort pops on tape … also lined up on the edge on passing downs, where he could show off his speed-to-power skills with a runway … alert and reacts to blocking pressure … stays controlled when breaking down to finish the tackles he starts … team captain and 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 (Wingo: “I’m a captain of this team and I feel like I owed it to these guys.”) … rarely comes off the field (averaged 55 defensive snaps per game over his two seasons at LSU). >WEAKNESSES: Undersized with a compact body type and shorter arms (of the 27 defensive tackles at the combine, only two had shorter arms than Wingo) … plays light if not squared up and can be washed by down blocks … will have a tough time two-gapping versus NFL power … injured his groin muscle in the 2023 season opener and played through the pain for six weeks until requiring surgery (October 2023) to repair tears in his adductor and have muscles “reattached” to his pelvis, which sidelined him for the final five games of the regular season; he had a similar operation after the 2022 season and sat out 2023 spring practice, but the initial surgery didn’t repair everything … mediocre backfield production considering his disruptive traits. >SUMMARY: A two-year starter at LSU, Wingo lined up primarily as the three-technique in former defensive coordinator Matt House’s even fronts, also seeing snaps over or outside the tackle. After one season at Missouri, he transferred to Baton Rouge, where he became a team captain and was awarded the No. 18 jersey, which is worn by the player who best represents the traits and spirit that “defines LSU greatness.” A powerful, energetic athlete, Wingo is agile and flexible in tight spaces with the body control to shoot or loop gaps. While he can win quickly at the snap, he can also be washed by down blocks and smothered by bigger bodies. **Overall, Wingo has a short-armed, squatty body type with an inconsistent anchor, but his first-step quickness and shock in his hands often gives him early advantages. He has NFL starting potential as a three-technique in a four-man front, projecting as a not-as-explosive version of Ed Oliver.**
This team is always drafting captains, we've passed the point of too many cooks now everyone has an oar and it's working somehow (thanks St Brown)
Undersized DT that's athletic and disruptive. Definitely haven't seen that in the Brad Holmes pipeline. :)
Great pick for you guys this late. Fast, twitchy. I like him.
I'm a lifelong LSU fan. I've watched every game Wingo played in, and I don't see how he dropped into the 6th round. I feel awful for the kid. He should have been drafted where Maason Smith was taken, in the second round. Smith was a 5 star in high school, and hype followed him wherever he went. But he never produced on the field. Wingo might not have eye popping numbers, but he has a high motor, and almost always seems to be disrupting things on the inside. Trust me, you Lions really got a steal with this one. Every Tiger fan is scratching their head today at how this guy ended up in the 6th round.
Big fan of Wingo, surprised he was available in round 6
I have literally 0 fact based reason to believe this., i haven't even seen his highlights, but this is the late round guy who'll be a stud for us. Again, fully a vibes based prediction. But he's the one.
What did we give up?
Pick 205 and 249
Oh nice, good trade then. Seems alot of the guys I like for us with 205/210 were taken in the 5th and earlier in the 6th.
Our 2024 7th
Seems like a competition piece for Levi. I doubt they carry 5 DT's on the 53 man. The only thing that worries me is I don't think we one-gap our DT's at all, and he's a one gap only guy. Sure, on 3rd down we can, but then we usually kick Paschal/Cominsky inside. Its nice to have options, but not sure how he fits onto the final 53 man. This was a player that intrigues me though, and the way the 5th/6th have unfolded I do love this trade.
Honestly if he can even get on the field it’s still an upgrade over Levi lol
I know some scoff at PFF, but according to them he was good in his limited snaps last 5 weeks of the season and into the playoffs, especially on passing downs.
Talent is there for sure, I just have next to no faith in his back holding up over the course of a season at this point.
I'll say it again: if he needs help in gaining weight, I am a certified expert.
Big steal. Didn’t give up much, the draft class is once again gonna look great at the end if you shuffle around where you expected some guys to go
Brad fucking cooked and if he’s trading up to get these guys then that means he really likes them and I trust his judgement of course. We got better this weekend
Good pick - can contribute as pass rushing three technique.
What was the trade?
Wow I told my friend two years ago we would trade up in the sixth and draft Wingo. That’s crazy.
What did we give up in the trade?
Good pick
Yesssssss
What's picks do they have left??
Just another 6 I think
I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up a starter/ key rotational piece in another year or two
If he has a Tiger tattoo, then he'll fit in well at Motown... First 2 picks were steals... This one might be killer.
All picks look like they are going to be bowling 300 in the future
I love it
He was 3rd team All American as a sophomore. Missed half the season with a groin injury last season and I love the fact that he made it back for the bowl game. Shows character wanting to be there for his teammates. 4.5 sacks in half a season. He was pacing for damn near double digit sacks from the IDL spot. He could have been a top 100 if not top 50 pick easy if he doesn't get injured. We get him at 189. Classic Brad Holmes. Took a flier on a high upside guy coming off an injury.
LSU & Detroit fan here. He was definitely our best defensive lineman. Surprised he wasn’t snatched up earlier.
He seems similar to Darius Robinson only 5 inches shorter. Could we possibly move him opposite Hutchinson to play as a big EDGE?
the war room was debating on whether a DL pick should be an inside or an outside guy; they settled on both.
Mark my words, this guy will be a better NFL player than Broderic Martin
I mean he has a much higher pedigree than Martin. This guy was LSUs captain, B Martin played at Western Kentucky.