Lions rookie Colby Sorsdal embracing move to guard at the next level

It was seen as likely, and Detroit Lions rookie Colby Sorsdal is embracing a move to guard in the NFL.

Colby Sorsdal placed right tackle nearly every snap he played in college at William & Mary, as he started 46 games in his career. When the Detroit Lions drafted him in the fifth round of last month’s draft (No. 152 overall), he was not a well-known name. When he could have transferred to an FBS school for his final year, he sold the Lions with his answer for why he chose to stay.

But for many draft analysts, a move inside to guard was the way Sorsdal would best stick around awhile in the NFL. He was announced as a guard when he was drafted, and he was listed as a guard on the Lions’ rookie minicamp roster. In Detroit right tackle is spoken for until further notice anyway, with Penei Sewell in place.

At rookie minicamp last weekend, Sorsdal spoke about the move inside to guard and his overall situation on the Lions’ offensive line.

Colby Sorsdal embracing the move to guard as he moves into the NFL

Via Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News, here’s what Sorsdal said about starting his transition to guard.

"I love how fast it is, but everything happens so much faster when you’re at guard,” he said. “Things get on you really quickly and that’s one thing I need to adjust to. But I like to have something new to work on, I like challenging myself, and I feel like I’m doing that out there.”"

Via Ben Raven of MLive, Sorsdal also noted the value of learning from the guys on one of the best offensive lines in the NFL when speaking after last Saturday’s practice.

"To come in here and learn — and like I said, I love to learn. I love to get better at what I do,”. “To have this kind of group, be surrounded with this much talent, it’s special. You can kind of feel it in the room, saying, ‘Hey, you gotta earn your keep here because this is a special group.’"

Looking long term, and truly just to 2024, the Lions have a void to fill at right guard. Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Graham Glasgow are on one-year deals, and it’s fair to assume one or both won’t be back next year. That seems to be where Sorsdal could step in, after taking his rookie year to work as a backup while learning a new position. And he’s quickly relishing the opportunity to learn that new position.