Mekhi Wingo

Lions traded up with the Texans to select LSU DT Mekhi Wingo with the No. 189 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Wingo (6'3/284) made an impact from the moment he stepped on campus at Missouri, where he made 27 tackles and famously scored off a tipped interception. He continued that momentum when he transferred to Baton Rouge, where he earned All-American and Team Captain honors in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Despite missing five games to a groin injury in 2023, he still accumulated 5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Wingo sports a teapot build that is typical of one techs coming out of college. He has the ability to convert speed to power from any alignment across the front. Wingo’s bull rush is adequate when supplemented with his effective hand fighting arsenal that moves blockers horizontally. Due to his limited length, Wingo will likely struggle to maintain control over more than one blocker, limiting him to single-gap assignments. A defensive line coach will fall in love with Wingo’s work ethic and motor, enough to be perfectly happy to have him back up the one tech position and deploy him primarily on passing downs.