5 best linebacker fits for Detroit Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft

3. Noah Sewell, Oregon

Yes, everyone loves the narrative of Sewell being a Detroit Lion like his brother Penei. And for his part, the younger Sewell told reporters at the Combine that he’d like it too.

“If I get drafted by the Lions it’ll be truly a blessing,”

But Noah Sewell the football player is a nice-looking fit for the Lions. He had a big sophomore season at Oregon in 2021, with 114 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and five pass breakups. A role change, and a disappointing campaign for the Ducks’ defense, brought a drop-off in production. He’s still considered a Day 2 draft pick though. Over three seasons for the Ducks, he posted 218 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and nine pass breakups.

Sewell is on the bigger side for an off-ball linebacker, at nearly 250 pounds (246 pounds officially at the Combine). He said it came up in interviews with teams in Indianapolis, but he dismissed it as any kind of hinderance to his game.

"They do question my weight a little bit,” he said. “I am on the heavier side of the scale, but I like to kind of stay away from those typical linebackers. I like to be unique with my weight. I can move around, I’m dynamic, I’m athletic and I think I bring a lot to the table with my weight.”"

Sewell ran a decent 4.64 40-yard dash at the Combine, with a 33-inch vertical and 27 bench press reps. He’s athletic enough, even with likely coverage limitations at the next level, with a motor the Lions should love and power as a tackler. On Day 2, potentially with their third-round pick (No. 81 overall), he may indeed join his brother in Honolulu Blue.