Goodnews: celebration as Detroit Lions signs a sensetional star with a wealth of expertise
Kingsley Eguakun, a center for the Florida Gators, was one of the best undrafted prospects in college football even after being left off the board in the 2024 NFL board. Egukaun, rated by ESPN as the fourth-best center available, signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Detroit Lions, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
According to Birkett, the 6’3, 300-pound center was guaranteed a $225,000 base salary in addition to a $20,000 signing bonus.
Eguakun takes his wealth of expertise to the next level. During his five years at Florida, he made thirty collegiate starts at center.
Regarding his stay in Gainesville, Egukaun remarked, “Just being able to put the logo on and just being able to go out there and compete in the SEC is a different experience.” “I believe it will and has helped me get ready for the important times. When I go beneath the lights, they aren’t overly bright.
Eguakun suffered an ankle injury in 2023 that prevented him from playing in eight games during his last season, which most likely reduced his selection value.
Eguakun commented, “Obviously, it didn’t help me,” about just participating in four games a year earlier. “It wasn’t the best for me because I was dealing with the injury and wasn’t feeling like myself when I wasn’t playing, but you can’t really dwell on things you can’t control, so I can just take advantage of my opportunities right now and have a great career out of it.” It improves the narrative.
After the 2024 NFL Draft, Eguakun becomes the first scholarship Gator to sign as a UDFA.
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Entire List of 2024 NFL Draft Selections for the Detroit Lions
In order to acquire players the organization deemed essential to their hopes of winning the Super Bowl in 2025, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes moved up four times in the NFL draft of 2024.
Under general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell, the Lions had extremely high expectations going into their fourth season. As such, they required a good draft to address a few areas of concern.
In order to position himself for two 2024 fourth-round selections, Lions general manager Brad Holmes was aggressive and traded up four times in the first six rounds with 2025 draft picks. The first two picks made by the team were cornerbacks. When Holmes selected an offensive lineman from LSU early in the third round—a player most draft analysts had not included on their boards—he made a dubious decision.
Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes’ 2024 NFL Draft choices for the Detroit Lions are as follows:
First round: No. 24 (DAL) – Alabama’s Terrion Arnold, CB
Round 2: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri, at No. 61
Round 4: GB’s No. 126 – Giovanni Manu, OT, British Columbia University
Round 4: SF’s No. 132 – Sione Vaki, Utah, RB
Round 5: No. 189 (originating in HOU and traveling via DEN, LAR, and BUF) – LSU Round 6: Mekhi Wingo, OT, No. 210 (from PHI) — Christian Mahogany, G., Harvard University