It was easy to see him as a fit, and the Detroit Lions indeed traded up to get Utah safety Sione Vaki in the fourth round of last April’s draft.
But Vaki was not just a safety. He got some run at running back for the Utes last season, when injuries left them thin there. Along with playing his typical safety spot, he had 15 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown in a game against Cal. The following week against USC he had 217 yards from scrimmage, highlighted by five catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
Vaki was announced as a running back when he was drafted, but the Lions listed him at safety in their social media post noting the pick. Via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press after he was drafted, general manager Brad Holmes projected Vaki as a core special teamer but also captured the broader sentiment about him as a player that appealed to the Lions.
“He’s a football player that plays football like how we like it,” Holmes said. Vaki also said he would play wherever he was needed.
Sione Vaki’s sneaky value reflected in honor from Pro Football Focus
As expected, with Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Craig Reynolds ahead of him on the depth chart, Vaki played just 26 offensive snaps during the regular season, with six carries and three receptions. But he played 310 special teams snaps, as a core special teamer just like Holmes forecasted he would be. One of his catches came from Jack Fox on a fake punt in Week 2.
Vaki finished the regular season with eight special teams tackles. His overall special teams grade from Pro Football Focus (90.3) was top-10 in the league among all players when narrowing to any snap count minimums.
So it’s no surprise Vaki was the special teamer on PFF’s All-Rookie Team for the 2024 season.
“Vaki would finish fourth overall of special teamers to play at least 200 snaps, comfortably best of all rookies.”
Special teams impact and value, beyond what a kicker, punter or returner does, usually hides in harder to see margins. Sure there might be a splashy play here or there, but making a routine tackle on a coverage unit (or simply staying disciplined when covering a kick) or throwing a block that springs a return man for some extra yards can be forgotten quickly.
Vaki has spent his rookie season as largely a non-entity to the Lions’ offense, as would be expected with the No. 4 running back, but he has provided great value as a special teamer. His teammates and coaches are certainly aware, even if it’s easy for fans to overlook.
