Round 1: T Penei Sewell ( Oregon ) : Pick # 7 ( 2021 )

[D6]

2021 NFL draft: Detroit Lions select Oregon OT Penei Sewell with seventh overall pick
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This thread relates to the following threads:

Lions have Pick # 7 in the 2021 NFL Draft

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/865/lions-pick-2021-nfl-draft

NFL Draft Preview: Offensive Lineman ( 2021 )

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1004/draft-preview-offensive-lineman-2021

Mock Draft ( 2021 ) - DLF Members

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1017/mock-draft-2021-dlf-members

I'm more than comfortable that the Lions kept pick # 7 and drafted Penei Sewell. Good value pick, based on the likely options the Lions had.

Once WR Ja'Marr Chase was selected by the Bengals with pick # 5, my preference was for the Lions to trade down if a good enough trade offer presented itself.

The Panthers acquiring QB Sam Darnold from the Jets a few weeks ago and the Broncos acquiring QB Teddy Bridgewater from the Panthers on Wednesday made it much more difficult to get a good enough trade down offer. Both teams had leverage against the Lions as a result. Based on the available players, both the Panthers ( pick # 8 ) and the Broncos ( pick # 9 ) drafted CBs. They passed up QBs Justin Fields and Mac Jones.

The only team to trade up for a QB in the 1st Round was the Bears going from # 20 to # 11 to draft Justin Fields. I'm totally comfortable in the Lions not trading down with the Bears, even if the offer would have made sense to accept if it was from a team not in the NFC North.

Mac Jones was the only other QB drafted in Round 1 ( Patriots # 15 ) after the Lions picked at # 7. The fact that New England didn't trade up for Jones with any team illustrates that a good enough trade offer wasn't coming from the Patriots.

The Eagles traded up from pick # 12 to pick # 10 ( surprisingly with their NFC East opponent Dallas Cowboys. ) in order to draft WR Devonta Smith. They originally had pick # 6. I'm assuming they weren't going back as high as # 7, for a trade price it made sense for the Lions to accept. ).

The Jets went up from pick # 23 to pick # 14 ( Vikings ) for G Alijah Vera-Tucker. It's safe to assume the Jets weren't interested in moving to # 7 for AVT.

Once the first 6 picks were completed, I don't think another team was going to pay a price even close to being acceptable to the Lions, move up to pick # 7. Not with Penei Sewell still available.

Based on the first 6 picks, if the Lions remained at # 7 , CB Patrick Surtain II narrowly edged Penei Sewell as my preference pick. Only because Curtain would be an outside CB ( a premium position ) for the Lions. Sewell is likely going to be playing RT for the Lions for at least a couple of seasons. Maybe, much longer. RG is also a possibility. LT is the only premium position on an Offensive Line with a right handed QB. If all positions were equal, I would have preferred Sewell by a significantly wider margin over Surtain than the very slight edge I had for Surtain over Sewell because of the position difference.

[D6]

2021 NFL draft: Detroit Lions select Oregon OT Penei Sewell with seventh overall pick

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The super-high football that Penei Sewell has is one of the main reasons why I think the Lions made a good decision to draft him at # 7 Both in terms of Sewell's recognition pre-snap and when bodies are flying. But also that Sewell can adapt to playing more than one Offensive Line position, if the Lions coaches have an issue at another position. Sewell primarily played RT in High School and was considered a highly rated Guard recruit. Hence, the transition from LT, his primary college position, should be relatively smooth.

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First-round pick Penei Sewell will move to right tackle, Detroit Lions confirm

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The Lions Offensive Line definitely shapes up as the # 1 strength of the team on both sides of the ball combined. Assuming Penei Sewell is the Lions starting RT, barring the injury factor, only RG is a question mark.

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NFL draft analyst: Detroit Lions’ pick Penei Sewell has Hall of Fame potential

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Penei Sewell was rated as the 2nd best player in this draft by many draft publications. This was as a LT prospect. Though LT is higher valued position for teams with a right handed QB, I think Sewell has more upside at RT than at LT. The reason being, his 33 1/ 4 " arm length, which is below average for the LT posi

Carolina could have paid the Lions asking price to trade up for Penei Sewell. Even if they rated Sewell over CB Jaycee Horn, who they drafted with pick # 8, they clearly didn't want Sewell enough to trade up for him.

[D6]

Detroit Lions went crazy when they drafted Penei Sewell, the fans and draft experts agree

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There are no guarantees of success for NFL Draft Prospects. Yet, the risk / reward with Penei Sewell is very favorable for the Lions. Especially, as a RT.

[D6]

Detroit Lions grade for Oregon OL Penei Sewell: D for not getting a playmaker
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Penei Sewell substantially increases the chances of the Lions skill players making plays.

There's also more than Round 1 of the 2021 Draft. Not to mention, the Lions have two 1st Round picks in the 2022 and 2023 Drafts.

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Detroit Lions considered three players with No. 7 pick in NFL draft

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I'm not sure if Brad Holmes was referring to three players that he thought had a realistic chance of being available with pick # 7 or three players that were available with pick # 7?


If an Offensive Lineman is clearly the highest rated player on the Lions Draft Board with pick # 41, I hope that Brad Holmes is able to find a trade down offer that's worth accepting.

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NFL pundits love Detroit Lions' pick of Penei Sewell; rare OL blue-chipper a 'no-brainer'
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Though the plan is for Penei Sewell not to play a premium position in the short run, the post Round 1 national grades for the Penei Sewell pick # 7 by the Lions are higher than the combined grades for a Lions 1st Round pick in a very long time.

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Detroit Lions' Penei Sewell pick an example of outdated thinking in team-building

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One thing in particular Jeff Seidel is overlooking is the Lions have four 1st Round Picks in the next two drafts combined. There will be double the opportunities to address other positions in the 1st Round of the next two drafts.

[frenchylions]

That's his point of view.
Every team has its own gameplan and if Dan Campbell wants to play smashmouth / clock chewing style and gives every chances to Goff and Swift to succeed, then Penei Sewell is the right pick.

There were 7 linemen taken in the first round in 2020 and 6 in 2019, lots of "outdated thinkers" in the league ! 

[D6]

An additional benefit to the strategy you mentioned is, if effective, it would keep the Lions Defense more fresh.

Related to what you mentioned, the eventual Super Bowl winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded up one spot ( from pick # 14 to # 13 ) in the 2020 Draft to select Iowa T Tristan Wilfs. Much like Penei Sewell being the 1st Offensive Lineman to start from the beginning of his Freshman season for Oregon in a very long time, Wilfs became a starter with Iowa during his Freshman season. As a rookie, Wilfs started all 16 regular season games and the Bucs 4 playoffs games, at RT. The upgrade he provided the Bucs at RT made a major positive difference in the Bucs going on to becoming Super Bowl Champions.

[D6]

2021 NFL draft: Why the Detroit Lions took Penei Sewell instead of Justin Fields or trading back

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If Penei Sewell avoids a serious injury, I think there's a good chance that he becomes a Pro Bowl caliber RT in his 2nd season with the Lions. A season in the Lions program, followed by an off-season of continuing to add strength to the lower body, should set the stage of Sewell becoming amongst the best RTs in the NFL.

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Oregon coach Mario Cristobal: Detroit Lions got 'a generational player' in OT Penei Sewell

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Oregon HC Mario Cristobal was Nick Saban's Assistant HC and Offensive Line Coach with Alabama for 4 seasons in the middle of the recently completed decade. Among others, Cristobal coached future Colts 1st Round Pick C Ryan Kelly and Future Jaguars 2nd Round Pick T Cam Robinson. Urban Meyer used the Franchise Tag on Robinson last month. Hence, it's fair to say that Cristobal truly sees Penei Sewell as a special / unique / differential deluxe player.

[D6]

NFL exec: Lions drafting Penei Sewell 'a no-brainer' and 'huge win'

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Penei Sewell is the first Lions draft pick, who was the first Offensive Lineman taken in an NFL Draft, since the Lions drafted Penn St. T Keith Dorney was pick # 10 in the 1979 NFL Draft.

Keith Dorney is one of my all time favorite Lions players. Injuries eventually ended his NFL playing career. But no Lions player I'm aware of had more desire to play and desire on every snap he was able to play, than Keith Dorney. He was a high caliber all around RT. I would be thrilled if Penei Sewell is a durable version of Dorney.

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Penei Sewell will miss Lions rookie minicamp after testing positive for COVID-19

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The good news under the circumstance is that Penei Sewell was apparently well enough to write and post his Tweet from a little over 12 hours ago.


The main thing is that Penei Sewell makes a full recovery, if he has COVID-19, and that those around him remain healthy.