The accolades keep coming in for Penei Sewell.
The Detroit Lions tackle was ranked No. 1 on The Athletic’s list of the top 25 players aged 25 or under.
The Athletic’s Mike Jones wrote:
"Already a three-time All-Pro selection just five seasons into his career, the powerful Sewell moves to left tackle this season, where he’ll protect Jared Goff’s blind side."Mike Jones, The Athletic
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs came in at No. 14 on the list and tight end Sam LaPorta was an honorable mention. In their own ways, both players are looking to eat off of the extra space Sewell can provide this season as a menace on the offensive line.
Sewell remains Lions' top superstar in latest ranking
Sewell has been one of the NFL’s most dominant players since the Lions made him the No. 7 pick of the 2021 draft. His build, athleticism and technique are all elite, and he plays with one of the nastiest mean streaks in the NFL.
As Jones said, Sewell is a three-time first team All-Pro, winning the honor every year since 2023. He’s also a four-time Pro Bowler, was voted No. 37 on this year’s NFL Top 100 and is currently the heavy favorite to win NFL Protector of the Year.
After five years of mauling at right tackle, the Lions are shifting Sewell to left tackle this year after the release of longtime blind side protector Taylor Decker.
It’s the position he played in college at Oregon, but he will still need time to adjust into the role.
READ MORE: 6 takeaways from Lions' fun preseason win against Commanders
“I don't have a timeline but I know it's as soon as possible,” Sewell said in early August of reaching comfort with playing left tackle. “I want it done today but in reality it's not going to be like that. But that's the mindset– I have to be the best today and be the greatest today.”
It’ll be a challenge for Sewell, but if there’s anyone in the league who can handle that transition, it’s him. He’s arguably one of the greatest athletes to ever play on the offensive line, has an unreal book of business to start his career and has played left tackle before.
He's such a freak athlete, in fact, that the Lions have thrown him the ball on third down to seal a game before. Head coach Dan Campbell hinted something like that could be in the cards this season when asked if the Lions had any offensive plays scripted for him this season.
"Not yet, but we will," Campbell said. "We will. Look, he's a versatile—I've said this all along—he's a weapon. He's a weapon. He plays on the o-line, but there's so much he can do."
The Lions need to get their offensive line play back on track after a 2025 season where they struggled to run the ball well or protect Jared Goff. Sewell was just about the only player providing consistently great trench play for them.
He basically carried them, actually.
According to the Bootleg Football podcast, the 2025 Lions ranked first in EPA per play on any running concept that went towards the right side of the offensive line. They were 24th on any man concept that went to the left side.
They’re hoping a retooled offensive line featuring Sewell at left and rookie Blake Miller at right tackle can help them return to the top of NFL offensive lines, while not making them so dependent on Sewell.
A wrist injury to top free agent addition Cade Mays really hurts those plans. But if Detroit can tread water with Juice Scruggs or Seth McLaughlin until October, there’s still reason to expect the line play to be better in 2026.
It’ll start with how well Sewell’s adjustment to left tackle goes. But if he’s anywhere nearly as good as he was on the right, the Lions shouldn’t be worried.
This is a Hall of Fame talent we’re talking about.
Add us as a preferred source on Google