The Detroit Lions officially have their second player on this year's NFL Top 100 -- and it's not who anyone expected to see next.
Really? Penei Sewell is only the 37th best player in the NFL?!
It's easy to prop up this list up and celebrate when it comes to favorable rankings, but it's certainly not prone to its bizarre placements. This could be one of the most bizarre ones so far this year, seeing the elite tackle drop 24 spots from his career-high #13 ranking last year. It's also Sewell's lowest ranking since his debut on this list in 2024, where he ranked #22.
No. 37 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026…@Lions OT Penei Sewell! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/BZWDEwHMdO
— NFL (@NFL) August 4, 2026
Massive drops like this from respected players aren't unheard of. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was #2 in 2024 and 2025, but fell to #69 this year. But unlike Jackson, Sewell didn't have a down year. The rest of his offensive line absolutely did, but Sewell remained every bit the anchor he's always been.
On Pro Football Focus, Sewell was the top-graded OT, with a 95.1 grade. His run-blocking also topped PFF at 96.7. His pass-blocking grade wasn't as impressive at 80.3, but that's still 11th best at his position. For his efforts, Sewell earned his third consecutive First-Team All-Pro and was a finalist for the inaugural Protector of the Year award.
Since this is voted on by players in the latter portions of the season, it's possible the Lions' O-line did hurt Sewell's perception. It's tough to stand out as arguably the top OT in the league when the O-line unit as a whole was abysmal, and played a huge factor in the team's late-season struggles.
Still, Sewell has built up a strong résumé and reputation throughout his young career, so it's shocking to see such a drastic slide in his ranking without a significant injury or drop off in his play.
Numerous Lions still to come in the NFL Top 100
Sewell was long assumed to be the top-ranked Lion in this year's list, almost by default given his Hall of Fame status at just 25 years of age. However, given his current placement, he'll likely be passed up by four of his teammates.
Last year, three Lions other than Sewell ranked above #37: QB Jared Goff (#15), wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (#20), and running back Jahmyr Gibbs (#27). Given that none of those three saw a notable drop off in play from last season, nor were any of them named honorable mentions, all three should still be named in the coming weeks.
READ MORE: Dan Campbell shares good and bad news with latest injury updates on Lions rookies
As for the fourth Lion who could rank above Sewell, that will likely be EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, who's fantastic comeback season saw him notch his first Second-Team All-Pro nod and a top-five Defensive Player of the Year award finish.
As if Sewell needed any more motivation as he begins his transition to left tackle alongside a refreshed O-line. This ranking should light an even bigger fire under him. Another First-Team All-Pro nod, and he'll leave no doubt he's the best OT of his generation and a deserving place in the top-ten in next year's list.
No one would dare rank him lower.
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