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

To close out their 2024 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected Boston College guard Christian Mahogany with the 210th overall pick. The pick was widely praised, seeing 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 final edition of our “Five things to know about...” series.

Previously:

• 5 things to know about Terrion Arnold
• 5 things to know about Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
• 5 things to know about Giovanni Manu
• 5 things to know about Sione Vaki
• 5 things to know about Mekhi Wingo

Injury appears to be the main reason Mahogany fell

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

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

While the Lions general manager didn’t provide 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 grade on Mahogany—talking about his unexpected fall, via his Trench Warfare podcast:

“He has some, from what I’ve heard, some medical issues that are concerning that I wasn’t really tuned into too much,” Thorn said.

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

“There’s some medical stuff going on with Mahogany that was the main reason he fell,” Brugler said.

It’s unclear exactly what the direct issue may be, but Mahogany did tear his ACL prior to the 2022 season due to an off-field “freak accident.” But he played in every game in 2023 (besides opting out of the bowl game). He does not appear to be currently limited, as he participated in the Shrine Bowl and the NFL Combine in full.

Yes, he is a dirtbag on the field

In his post-draft press conference, Holmes slipped in a new nickname for Mahogany.

“He’s got some dirtbag in him,” Holmes said. “He’s just one of those tough, Jersey kids that doesn’t take a lot of crap.”

Mahogany has clearly embraced this nickname, even changing his Twitter name to now Christian Dirtbag Mahogany:

Looking at this Mahogany’s tape, it certainly is an apt nickname. Mahogany is the type of player that will run a defender 10 yards beyond the sideline while the play is on the other end of the field. He’ll take his block and drive the player into the turf. He’s not just going to block, he’s going to intimidate.

This 1:36 cut-up of some of his most violent reps is a perfect montage of his dirtbag moments:

While most of Mahogany’s best tape is as a mauling run blocker as seen above—particularly when he pulls—it’s also worth noting he was outstanding as a pass blocker, allowing zero QB hits or sacks in 2023, while earning a PFF pass blocking grade of 82.2, good for 24th in the nation among 204 qualifying guards.

He had an epic video announcing his return to Boston College

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

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

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

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

He dominated the Shrine Bowl

Mahogany wasn’t at the Senior Bowl, but he did attend the East-West Shrine Bowl and had himself a week. Just take a look at some of the highlights below.

And here he is getting a little work at left guard:

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

He’s persevered through a lot of personal adversity

For a kid who is still just 23 years old, Mahogany has gone through 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 father had passed away, I had to grow up quickly,” Mahogany told The Draft Network. “From that day forward, I wouldn’t say that I took everything with a grain of salt, but I definitely stopped overlooking certain things in my life. I became more appreciative. I became a man. I didn’t know how far football would take me. Adversity 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 seasons of football that year.”

As for 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 striving to attain an education.”