After a down season as a unit and some offseason reshuffling, the Detroit Lions' offensive line is looking to get back to being one of the best in the league. When it's all said and done at the end of training camp, there may only be two starters carrying over from last year, and one (Penei Sewell) is switching positions.
Two of the three remaining starting spots feel locked in, with Cade Mays at center and rookie Blake Miller at right tackle. If it's not Miller starting at right tackle immediately, then it will be a different new starter, veteran free agent signing Larry Borum, keeping the seat warm for him.
Christian Mahogany is penciled in as the Lions' starting left guard right now. A left leg injury costed him six games last season, and it was clear when he returned to action he was not at full strength.
As minicamp closed last month, here's what Lions head coach Dan Campbell said when asked if he considered the starting job at left guard to be "open."
"It’s open. Look, Mahogany is very much in that. He played a couple games for us in '24, and then he started for us until he had the injury, came back, started again. So we know he’s got ability, he’s got potential. But there’s a reason why we brought in (Ben) Bartch, there's a reason why (Miles) Frazier's here, there's a reason why all those guys are in there. We might try (Giovanni) Manu a little bit."
"I mean, we’re going to let this thing go and see what happens. It'll be good. It'll be good for all of them. When you have someone nipping at your heels constantly, or you're having to compete and push, and you all are competing for the same thing, it’s good for everybody."
It's hard to see Giovanni Manu as a serious competitor for the left guard job, as he clings to a roster spot and truly seems to be on the wrong side of the roster bubble entering training camp. But the rest of Campbell's comments felt like a message to Mahogany.
Harsh predictiion would help Lions quickly resolve loaded training camp battle
Bleacher Report's Moe Moton has predicted the player who will be each NFL team's biggest bust in 2026. For the Lions, he went with Mahogany.
"In two seasons, Christian Mahogany has started in 12 out of 18 games. He appeared in a lead role at left guard for 11 contests last year, but the third-year pro didn't do enough to guarantee his spot for the upcoming campaign."
"According to Pro Football Focus, Mahogany allowed six sacks over 407 pass-blocking snaps. Because of his subpar pass protection, the Lions could make a change at left guard,”
READ MORE: Lions newcomer could make one offseason gamble look smart quickly
One name Campbell did not publicly mention in regard to the competition at left guard is Juice Scruggs, the versatile interior lineman who was acquired from the Houston Texans in the David Montgomery trade. Maybe it was an oversight, or Scruggs is more comfortably seen as a versatile backup.
In any case, Mahogany will have to fend off plenty of competition to be the LIons' starting left guard this season. There's definitely a chance he doesn't assert himself and win the job during camp, but Moton turned it up a notch by using the dreaded 'b' word.
Add us as a preferred source on Google