Lions make moves to bring in Swiss army knife Sione Vaki out of Utah in 2024 NFL Draft
The Detroit Lions have selected Utah safety Sione Vaki with the 132nd pick in the fifth round. Once again Brad Holmes and the Lions fell in a love with a player and did what they had to do to go get him. Vaki is someone they have been "heavily interested" in for some time now. […]
The Detroit Lions have selected Utah safety Sione Vaki with the 132nd pick in the fifth round.
Once again Brad Holmes and the Lions fell in a love with a player and did what they had to do to go get him. Vaki is someone they have been "heavily interested" in for some time now.
The Lions talked to him at the Senior Bowl, had a formal meeting with him at the NFL Combine, went to his pro day and had a top-30 visit with him. In terms of what was reported, Vaki was the player they had the most pre-draft visits with.
When you see what he can do, you know whey the Lions, and other teams, were so interested in drafting him. He has three phase ability and the Lions look to use him as such.
Vaki is not only a pretty good safety that would fit the Lions rotation, but he's also a solid running back that racked up 517 total yards and five touchdowns for Utah in 2023. He has a history of playing on special teams and while he wasn't a return man in college, he did return kicks in high school. His speed and shiftiness could help with the new NFL kick off rules.
According to a source, both Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery love Vaki and what they could do with him. So the Lions have clear interest in utilizing Vaki in multiple facets.
A very solid pick for the Lions that forced them to move things around in order to get him, but they got him.
