2024 NFL Draft profile: 5 things to know about new Lions G Christian Mahogany

To conclude their 2024 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected Boston College guard Christian Mahogany with the 210th overall pick. The pick was widely praised, as some saw him as a top 100 prospect worthy of a third or fourth round pick.

Let’s get to know Mahogany a little better with the latest edition of our “Five Things to Know About…” series.

Earlier:

Injury appears to be the main reason Mahogany fell

As mentioned, Mahogany was in the top 100 (93) according to Arif Hasan’s consensus big board. Lions general manager Brad Holmes was surprised he was still available in the sixth round.

“I was shocked. I didn’t think he would still be there at that moment,” Holmes said.

While the Lions general manager didn’t provide any details on why he thought Mahogany slipped, the general consensus appears to be related to his health.

Here’s offensive line expert Brandon Thorn – who had a third-round pick on Mahogany – talking about his unexpected fall, via his Trench Warfare podcast:

“From what I hear, he has some medical issues that I wasn’t really tuned in to,” Thorn said.

Dane Brugler of “The Athletic Football Show” said something similar in his draft recap show.

“There are some medical things going on with Mahogany, which was the main reason he fell,” Brugler said.

It’s unclear what exactly the immediate problem may be, but Mahogany tore his ACL before the 2022 season as a result of an off-field “freak accident.” But he played in every game in 2023 (except the bowl game opt-out). He doesn’t appear to be limited at the moment, as he fully participated in the Shrine Bowl and the NFL Combine.

Yeah, he’s a dirtbag on the field

During his post-draft press conference, Holmes added a new nickname for Mahogany.

“There’s some kind of bag in him,” said Holmes. “He’s just one of those tough Jersey kids who doesn’t put up with a lot of bullshit.”

Mahogany has clearly embraced this nickname and even changed his Twitter name to now Christian Dirtbag Mahogany:

Looking at this mahogany tape, it is certainly an appropriate nickname. Mahogany is the type of player who makes a defender run ten yards past the sideline while the play is taking place on the other side of the field. He takes his block and drives the player into the grass. He will not only block, but also intimidate.

This 1:36 footage of some of his most violent repetitions is a perfect montage of his sordid moments:

While most of Mahogany’s best tape is as a shredding run blocker, as seen above – especially when he pulls – it’s also worth noting that he was excellent as a pass blocker, recording zero QB hits or – allowed sacks while earning a PFF pass blocking grade of. 82.2, good for 24th in the nation among 204 qualified guards.

He had an epic video announcing his return to Boston College

In 2023, Mahogany faced a difficult decision. His 2022 season was derailed by the aforementioned ACL injury, but some believed his draft stock was high enough to be drafted in a reasonable round. He had also reportedly received some serious NIL transfer offers.

“No amount of money can take me away from a place where I was believed in from the beginning,” Mahogany told ESPN last year. “Why would I leave for some money? I’m a mercenary at that point. There is no care, there is no love. I wanted to finish here and that was my end goal.”

I already ruined the surprise of his announcement to return, but I thought it was very well done.

While Mahogany’s return didn’t lead to the draft rise he was hoping for, he did become captain of the BC Eagles and helped them to their first seven-win season since 2018.

He dominated the Shrine Bowl

Mahogany was not at the Senior Bowl, but he did attend the East-West Shrine Bowl and had a week there. Just take a look at some of the highlights below.

And here he gets some work at left guard:

(Note: He started 11 games at left guard and 22 at right guard during his time at Boston College)

He has endured many personal setbacks

For a kid who is only 23 years old, Mahogany has suffered a lot of loss. He lost his father when he was only 14 years old. He lost his grandmother in 2021 and lost a former high school teammate, Devin Willock, to a high-profile accident last year.

“When I got the call that my dad had passed away, I had to grow up fast,” Mahogany told The Draft Network. “From that day on, I wouldn’t say I took everything with a grain of salt, but I definitely stopped overlooking certain things in my life. I became more grateful. I became a man. I didn’t know how far football would take me. Setbacks really motivated me to become better than I was at that moment. My grandmother passed away before the 2021 season. I played one of my best football seasons that year.”

Regarding the tragedy involving Willock, Mahogany started a GoFundMe to establish the Devin Willock Legacy Scholarship, hoping to honor his memory by “ensuring that limited funds are not a factor for a deserving scholar seeking an education to follow.’