Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Lions Draft Pick #189 Mekhi Wingo

Scouting Reports:









Grades:


Rankings:


Video:

DL Mekhi Wingo (LSU) Runs 4.85-Second 40-Yard Dash at the combine:  https://www.newyorkjets.com/video/mekhi-wingo-lsu-40-yard-dash-2024-nfl-combine


Articles:

Who Is Mekhi Wingo? Height, Weight, Age, and More (4-26-24):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/mekhi-wingo-bio-2024/

2024 NFL Draft: Five notable fallers in PFF's mock draft simulator (DI MEKHI WINGO, LSU - PFF Big board rank: 131.  ADP on Jan. 8: 64.  ADP on April 22: 129. Change: -65.  Wingo's shorter arms and legs limit his efficacy and versatility. He will likely be limited between the 2i and 4i alignments in a 4-3 scheme. However, his quickness and consistent hand placement can lead to some success as a rotational pass-rusher in the NFL.) (4-25-24):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-the-five-biggest-fallers-in-pffs-mock-draft-simulator

2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Interior defensive linemen (9. DI MEKHI WINGO, LSU - PFF BIG BOARD RANK: 131.  Wingo's shorter arms and legs limit his efficacy and versatility. He will likely be limited between the 2i and 4i alignments in a 4-3 scheme. However, his quickness and consistent hand placement can lead to some success as a rotational pass-rusher in the NFL.) (4-22-24):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-position-rankings-interior-defensive-linemen

2024 NFL Draft: Highest-graded interior defender in every category (RED-ZONE RUN-DEFENSE GRADE: MEKHI WINGO, LSU (87.2):  Despite being on the smaller side for the position, Wingo wins with quickness and hand speed, which allowed him to be incredibly disruptive when backed up in the red zone. The LSU defensive tackle disengages blockers with ease, which allowed him to rack up a sky-high 37.1% positively graded play rate, compared to just 2.9% on the negative side.) (4-19-24):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-highest-graded-interior-defender-every-category

2024 NFL Draft: Defending Most Controversial Player Rankings (Players Who Are Ranked Higher or Lower -Higher: DT Mekhi Wingo, LSU.  SIS Rank: 39.  Mock Draft Database Consensus: 116.  Undersize at just taller than 6 feet, Mekhi Wingo makes up for his short stature with explosiveness off the ball. His 2023 pressure share (15 percent) ranks fifth among featured defensive tackles, and his 0.8 tackle for loss per game ranks sixth. He spent a fair amount of time lining up over tackles in LSU’s defense but should be put into a better situation to produce in the NFL as a 3-tech in an even front.  Here's what SIS scout Chad Tedder wrote about Wingo's pass rush: “With this quickness, he also possesses the strength to keep pushing linemen back into the pocket and provide interior pressure on the quarterback.” And against the run, “He can anticipate the snap and be quick out of his stance to reset the line of scrimmage a yard or two back.”) (4-16-24):  https://www.the33rdteam.com/2024-nfl-draft-defending-most-controversial-player-rankings/

NFL Draft: Favorite prospects, from no-doubt No. 1 pick to some old-school running backs (Mekhi Wingo, DL, LSU:  Wingo is somewhere on the Grady Jarrett spectrum. Like Newton, he’s a shorter defensive tackle who primarily projects to 3-technique at the next level. He can get up the field in a hurry and has effective pass rush plans to disengage from blockers. Wingo will be a 21-year-old rookie for his entire first season, so the upside is high here. Like Newton, Wingo’s draft stock isn’t clear because the NFL has been inconsistent in how it values short defensive tackles, but he’s a stud who can beef up an interior pass rush and has the ability to get behind the line of scrimmage.) (4-5-24):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-favorite-prospects-from-no-doubt-no-1-pick-to-some-old-school-running-backs-141930214.html

2024 Scouting Combine: Which DL, EDGE, and LB helped themselves the most? (Mekhi Wingo, DL, LSU:  Wingo had five sacks and 19 total pressures in just eight games and 239 pass-rushing snaps last season, and he had 11 stops in just 150 snaps against the run. Adding to those impressive numbers here in Indy, Wingo ran a 4.85-second 40-yard dash (second among defensive linemen), and his 1.64-second 10-yard split ranked first. If you’re of the mind that the 10-yard split matters much more for defensive linemen because any play in which a defensive lineman has to run 40 yards in a straight line is bad for your defense, that number is pretty impressive.) (2-29-24):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/2024-scouting-combine-chop-robinson-braden-fiske-nfl-draft/

2024 NFL Combine Risers: Braden Fiske Electrifies, While Dallas Turner Confirms Potential (Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU:  Wingo was one of the smallest defensive tackles present at the 2024 NFL Combine at 6’0″, 284 pounds, but he made up for it with his testing. Wingo ran a blazing 4.86 40-yard dash with a 1.67 10-yard split and also jumped 31.5″ on the vertical jump. Wingo isn’t nearly as clean or as consistent as Calijah Kancey was as a prospect in the 2023 cycle, but looking purely at the physical foundation, Wingo brings the same kind of initial quickness and natural leverage. In the right scheme, he could thrive.) (2-29-24):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2024-nfl-combine-risers-braden-fiske-dallas-turner-draft/

NFL Combine results: 7 standouts from the interior defensive line group (Stock up: Mekhi Wingo, LSU (6-foot-0, 284 pounds):  Wingo isn’t as highly rated as Dorlus by draft analysts, but his ability to maximize his athleticism is a terrific example of how you can find success in the NFL. For most teams, Wingo will be a Day 3 pass-rusher-only option, but he has the fluidity and balance to make that work.) (2-29-24):  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/2/29/24087005/nfl-combine-results-7-standouts-from-the-interior-defensive-line-group

5 Interior Defensive Linemen Lions Should Watch at NFL Combine (Mekhi Wingo, LSU:  Like Sweat, Wingo has been overshadowed at points by a talented teammate with plenty of Draft buzz. He played next to Maason Smith, who is expected to be an early Day 2 pick.  However, Wingo has had plenty of success in his own right. He had three sacks for the Tigers in 2023, and produced 14 total pressures. The Missouri transfer was at his best as a three-technique, and plays with a high motor. Wingo is also a proven leader that would be a strong cultural fit, as he wore LSU's vaunted No. 18 jersey last season. He has plenty of traits, but showing off athletic ability during his on-field segments would be massive for his Draft stock. ) (2-18-24):  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/defensive-linemen-lions-targets-nfl-combine

ReliaQuest Bowl NFL Prospect Preview: Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr. to Play, While Jayden Daniels, Braelon Allen Skip Wisconsin vs. LSU Matchup (Mekhi Wingo and Maason Smith, DTs:  I’m lumping these two defensive tackles together because neither should declare for the 2024 draft. Mekhi Wingo is an undersized 3-technique in a 4-3 front, lacking the length to stand out, and his production dropped to a level that makes him a Day 3 prospect. His speed, pad level, and play strength must improve next year.  Maason Smith had top-five potential entering the year, but he failed to bounce back from a torn ACL that wiped out his 2022 season. Smith’s physical traits simply didn’t look the same in 2023, so he’d be little more than a flier if he declared for this year’s draft.) (1-1-24):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/reliaquest-bowl-nfl-prospect-preview-draft-2023/

Mel Kiper names LSU DT Mekhi Wingo 2024 NFL Draft sleeper (2-12-24):  https://www.on3.com/pro/news/mel-kiper-names-lsu-dt-mekhi-wingo-2024-nfl-draft-sleeper/

LSU Football Top 10: No.8 Mekhi Wingo (12-4-23):  https://lsu.rivals.com/news/lsu-football-top-10-mekhi-wingo

BREAKING: LSU defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo likely out for season (10-30-23):  https://lsutigerswire.usatoday.com/2023/10/30/lsu-football-mekhi-wingo-likely-out-season-surgery/

Mekhi Wingo wanted to leave Missouri. He's going back as one of LSU's bright spots. (10-7-23):  https://www.nola.com/sports/lsu/mekhi-wingo-left-missouri-for-lsu-with-hopes-of-giving-back/article_cafe0332-6498-11ee-a263-77a32caaefc0.html

CFB Week 3 2023: Draft Prospects Spencer Rattler, Jer'Zhan Newton, and Malik Nabers Stand Out (LSU defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo logged his first sack of the 2023 season in Week 3 — an inside chop from 3-technique, on which Wingo used his hyper-elite first step to teleport inside the B gap.  At 6’1”, 275 pounds, Wingo is truly one of the most explosive DT prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, and on Saturday, he proved he could use precise, forceful hands in tandem with that explosiveness.) (9-18-23):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb-week-3-2023-draft-prospects/

Draft watch: 7 players to watch, including Michigan’s Kris Jenkins Jr. (Mekhi Wingo, DL, LSU (Junior)
6-foot-1, 295 pounds - An excerpt from PFF’s Max Chadwick’s 10 DTs to Know article:  “After an impressive freshman season at Missouri, Wingo transferred to LSU this past season. He practically never came off the field for the Tigers, as the sophomore’s 821 snaps were 30-plus more than any other interior defensive lineman in college football. His 84.3 run-defense grade ranked third among SEC interior defensive linemen, while his four sacks were tied for the most.”  How he’d fit with the Lions:  Wingo would likely fit with the team in the same vane as John Cominsky/Josh Paschal, except for the fact that he is likely an interior player first, who can kick outside in “big” sets. Wingo would be more of a situational pass rusher early in his career, but would also fill a trait missing from the current defensive line.) (9-16-23):  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/9/16/23866297/detroit-lions-2024-draft-watch-7-players-to-watch-including-michigans-kris-jenkins-jr

Early 2024 NFL Draft interior defensive lineman rankings: Illinois' Jer'Zhan Newton claims No. 1 (7. MEKHI WINGO, LSU:  Wingo started his career at Missouri, where he played just one season before transferring to LSU in 2022. In his lone year with the Tigers, the 6-foot-1, 295-pound defensive tackle recorded 25 pressures on 413 pass-rush snaps for a 6.5% pass-rush win rate. That is on the lower side when it comes to efficiency, but he also recorded an 83.9 run-defense grade, showcasing his reliability at a lower weight.  His burst and his hand usage are good. He has a nice little one-two pass-rush plan with a strong push-pull right at offensive linemen’s chests. Then, later in the game or drive when the lineman braces for it or gets overaggressive to set, he hits them with a nice swim move to get into the backfield. But there are also too many times where Wingo engages an offensive lineman and can’t get off the block. He needs more in the realm of counters; he has the quick hands to get free more often. He’s a bit of a boom-or-bust type of player right now, in both pass rush and run defense, but the highs are fun.) (7-25-23):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-early-2024-nfl-draft-interior-defensive-lineman-rankings-illinois-jerzhan-newton

2024 NFL Draft: 10 draft-eligible interior defensive linemen to know (MEKHI WINGO, LSU:  After an impressive freshman season at Missouri, Wingo transferred to LSU this past season.  He practically never came off the field for the Tigers this year, as the sophomore’s 821 snaps were 30-plus more than any other interior defensive linemen in college football. His 84.3 run-defense grade was third among SEC interior defensive linemen while his four sacks were tied for the most.) (6-2-23):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-10-draft-eligible-interior-defensive-linemen-to-know



Posted by LionsFan at 3:54 PM

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