Getty The Athletic's Ben Standig projected head coach Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions to draft Alabama's Chris Braswell after trading out of the first round in the 2024 NFL draft.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes hinted that the team has some big plans for rookie Sione Vaki, the fourth-round pick who started his collegiate career at Utah as a defensive back before moving to running back.
At the team’s rookie minicamp this week, that versatility was on display as Vaki earned some rave reviews for his performance. Tim Twentyman, reporter for the team’s official website, noted that the former Utah standout was “dominant” in special teams drills while also making a big impact in the offense.
“After watching fourth-round pick Sione Vaki take part in the first open rookie minicamp practice on Friday, it’s easy to see why the Detroit Lions fell in love with his game in the pre-draft process,” Twentyman wrote.
“He was dominant in special teams periods, at one point getting to the returner first for what would have been a tackle (no hitting or pads in minicamp) on three straight reps he took part in on the coverage team.”
Rookie Running Back’s ‘Terrific’ Footwork
Vaki came to the Lions with just one collegiate season of experience at running back, having converted from a safety and defensive back prior to the 2023 season. Christian Booher of SI.com’s All Lions noted that he was a natural fit, rushing 15 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns in his first game as a running back for the Utes.
Twentyman wrote that he continued to look sharp carrying the ball at Detroit’s minicamp, which opened on May 10.
“In individual running back drills, he showed terrific footwork, agility, and balance, despite the fact the safety-turned-running back had just 42 carries in college after agreeing to move to offense because of injuries at the position,” Twentyman wrote. “He chipped in 317 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while catching 11 passes for 203 yards and three more scores.”
Twentyman added that Vaki showed off “terrific hands and good route-running ability” in individual drills.
Jeremy Reisman of SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit also had plenty of praise for Vaki, noting that he “came away impressed with his decisiveness and downhill running style.” Reisman also hinted that Vaki could be a contender for return specialist, a position of increased importance under the league’s new rules encouraging kickoff returns.
“The Lions spent a portion of practice on the new kickoff. Media rules prevent me from detailing where specific players were playing, but I’ll just let you know that Vaki’s special teams potential certainly shined during this portion of practice,” Reisman wrote.
Brad Holmes Hints at Plan for Rookie RB
Holmes revealed that the team initially started scouting Vaki when he was a safety, noting that the team’s scouts followed his transition to running back and was impressed by his field vision.
“I first saw him when he had first made the switch when they got kind of short at running back there at Utah,” Holmes said, via SI.com. “They just had him fill in. But we were more so looking at him as a safety, but he looks so natural as a runner. I was like, ‘Wait, where did these backyard instincts of his come from of just him running the ball and making these plays?’ Not only does he have these instincts that are (more) natural (than) we thought, he’s not even majoring in it.”
Holmes added that the Lions could lean into Vaki’s versatility, expanding his role beyond the backfield as more of a pass-catcher and special teams player.
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Lions Rookie RB Earning Buzz After ‘Dominant’ Minicamp: Insider