Chiefs host freakish OT Giovanni Manu on top-30 visit ahead of 2024 NFL draft

What is a top-30 visit?

NFL teams are allotted 30 pre-draft visits with prospects at team facilities in a given year. These visits happen with different goals in mind as part of the pre-draft fact-gathering process. Teams will bring in players with injury history, character concerns, or players that they simply haven't done as much work on.

The Chiefs use their top 30 visits in several different ways, but it almost always indicates that they have some level of interest in a prospect. Often they'll bring in players who are expected to be priority free agents, to convince them to sign with the team after the draft. That could be the case with a player like Manu, who is a Day 3 prospect at best. The team also often hosts top-100 draft picks on visits. Rashee Rice, for instance, took a top-30 visit with the Chiefs last year. 

How does OT Giovanni Manu fit with the Chiefs?

The Chiefs don't have a set-in-stone left tackle. They could trot out Wanya Morris as their Day 1 starter, but no matter what transpires, they're going to bring in some level of competition on the left side of the line. Andy Reid said as much to media members this week. 

Manu brings some positional flexibility to his game. The former high school basketball star appeared in 39 career games over six seasons at the University of British Columbia. He redshirted as a freshman in 2018 and the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19. In 33 of those games, Manu started at left tackle. For the rest he played the left guard position. 

Manu is of Tongan heritage, which is apparent based on his size alone. The 23-year-old weighed in just under 6-foot-8 and 350 pounds. He carries that weight much better than you'd expect and is quite the athlete. Reports say he ran between a 5.03s and 4.96s 40-yard dash, which is unheard of at that size. He posted a 33.5-inch vertical jump and a 107-inch broad jump. He also posted 23 repetitions of 225 on the bench press. 

Manu is a likely Day 3 pick or priority free agent signing after the draft, but it's easy to understand why NFL teams are intrigued here. This is the second meeting for the Chiefs after they were one of 16 clubs to attend the UBC pro day in late March.

Other visits so far:

• Oregon State WR Anthony Gould
• Western Michigan DE Marshawn Kneeland
• Boston College OL Christian Mahogany
• UCF WR Javon Baker
• UNI DT Khristian Boyd
• Marshall RB Rasheen Ali
• BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia
• Ohio State DT Michael Hall Jr.
• Furman OL Jake Johanning
• Kansas State TE Ben Sinnott
• CFL CB Qwan'tez Stiggers
• UCLA FB/RB Carson Steele
• Texas RB Jonathon Brooks 
• Texas DT K'Vondre Sweat
• USF OT Donovan Jennings (coming soon)
• Penn State OT Caedan Wallace (coming soon)
• Washington WR Jalen McMillan (coming soon)
• TCU S Millard Bradford (coming soon)
• Missouri OT Javon Foster (coming soon)
• Cincinnati DT Jowon Briggs (coming soon)