Detroit Lions select Mekhi Wingo in sixth round of 2024 NFL Draft

LSU defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo was selected by the Detroit Lions with the No. 189 pick in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Wingo started the first seven games of the 2023 season for the Tigers but was held out for the rest of the season, starting in Week 8. He had surgery during LSU’s bye week, then returned to play for the Tigers in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin.

Wingo had 25 tackles, five tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks on the season. He made three tackles and two sacks against the Badgers in the 35-31 win to give LSU a final record of 10-3 on the year.

Wingo transferred to LSU from Missouri in the offseason of 2022. In 2022, he served as the anchor of the Tigers’ interior defensive line. He earned second-team All-SEC honors and Third Team All-American recognition after recording 47 tackles six tackles for loss, three sacks, and batting down down four passes. In 2021, Wingo notched 27 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and an interception he returned for a touchdown against North Texas as a freshman.

As a member of the Class of 2021, Wingo was a three-star recruit out of De Smet (MO) High School, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranked as the No. 601 overall prospect in the country, No. 53 defensive lineman in the nation and No. 9 prospect in Missouri.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Mekhi Wingo

As far as what he’ll look like in the NFL, NFL.com‘s Lance Zierlein believes he has a future as a contributor. He compares him to former first-rounder Sheldon Rankins.

“Wingo is a shade undersized, but his tape is fun to watch,” Zierlein writes. “He is compact and powerful, with the ability to separate and play off of lateral blocks quickly. He can be overcome by length or mass at times but is rarely dominated.

“Wingo has first-step quickness and processing to beat blockers to erase their landmarks and is tremendously agile as a short-space tackler. He has a hop-and-chop rush move typically seen from defensive ends and will be too athletic for some guards to handle as a pass rusher. Wingo could become an early backup as an even-front 3-technique but he has three down-potential and could eventually become a starter.”