With the No. 7 overall pick in the draft, the Detroit Lions selected OT Penei Sewell.
The product of a proud football household—two of his uncles are NFL alums while brothers Noah (his teammate at the University of Oregon) and Gabriel both play collegiately—Penei Sewell redeemed himself after an injury-plagued debut season (a high-ankle sprain cost him six games), emerging as the most feared tackle in FBS as a sophomore. The 6’5” goliath miraculously didn’t allow a sack in 2019, keeping Justin Herbert’s blind side clean as a whistle. The Utah native (though he spent much of his youth in American Samoa) cleaned up in awards season, claiming both the Outland and Morris Trophies (the latter awarded annually to the top lineman in college football) while sharing Polynesian Player of the Year honors with Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa. Sewell chose not to suit up for the 2020 season, a decision prompted by COVID concerns as well as his desire to prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Measurables: 6’5”/331
School: Oregon
Accolades: Outland Trophy (2019), Morris Trophy (2019), Unanimous All-American (2019), First team All-Pac-12 (2019), Co-Polynesian College Football Player of the Year (2019)
Strengths: A four-star high-school recruit who chose Oregon over offers from Alabama, USC, Florida, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Michigan (among others FBS powerhouses), Sewell moves extraordinarily well for his size, clocking a respectable 5.09 at his recent Pro Day. He also boasts impeccable fundamentals, savvy footwork and a thirst for contact, routinely steamrolling opponents on the edge before continuing into the second level. Ruthless in the trenches, Sewell’s instincts and awareness are both unparalleled. On the rare occasion a defender beats him one-on-one, the 20-year-old is always quick to recover and won’t make the same mistake twice.
Weaknesses: Not many. Sewell only appeared in 21 games at Oregon, but that’s all he needed to establish himself as arguably (others might prefer Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater) the premier tackle in his class. The 20-year-old’s arm length is just average for his position (33 1/4,” 53rd percentile) and some scouts aren’t convinced he’s a hard worker. Other nitpicks include his blitz pickup and inconsistent pad level, but neither are deal-breakers. Sewell’s freshman-year ankle injury has scarcely been mentioned throughout his draft process, suggesting it’s not a long-term concern.
NFL comparison: Jason Peters
Experts see a lot of Trent Williams in Sewell, but Peters, a similarly athletic behemoth with a mean streak, might be his closest comp.
What experts are saying
“I love his overall demeanor and toughness. There aren't many flaws in Sewell's game.” – Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com
"He's the clear top offensive tackle in this class and dominated as Justin Herbert's blindside protector in 2019 … he'll be an instant starter and upgrade for the team that picks him.” – Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN
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