Penei Sewell has quickly become one of the best right tackles in the NFL, and really one of the best offensive tackles regardless in the league regardless of position. Back-to-back Pro Bowl selections the last two years is just the start of what may push toward double-digit career Pro Bowl selections. This year, he was a First-Team All-Pro for the first time.
Brad Holmes' first draft pick as Detroit Lions' general manager has become the building block it was envisioned he'd be.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby has also become one of the best at his position. He has earned three straight Pro Bowl selections, while registering down-ballot votes for Defensive Player of the Year the last two years. This past season, he reset his career-highs with 14.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss.
As numerous players did last week on the ground at Super Bowl LVIII, Crosby made the rounds in Las Vegas.
During an appearance on Bradley Martyn's "Raw Talk" podcast, Crosby talked about a wide range of topics. He was asked who is the toughest player to line up against.
Maxx Crosby gives Penei Sewell some very lofty praise
"I would say the two toughest gotta be Trent Williams and Penei Sewell from Detroit,” Crosby said. “They just played yesterday, but those two guys, I’ve played both of them, and they were like straight—it was just like war every play.”
Crosby or course faced Sewell during the now-completed season, in Week 8. It's safe to see "got his" to some degree, with eight tackles, one tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and a fumble recovery. But Sewell was also very good, allowing just two pressures on Jared Goff with a 79.8 run blocking grade in the game according to Pro Football Focus.
Crosby talked further about what makes Sewell special.
“It’s just a mixture. All the best players have that similar quality where, ‘I’m the alpha. I’m going to win. I don’t give a f*ck who it is, I’m gonna find a way to win,’” Crosby said. “And when you’ve got a mixture of athleticism and you’re strong as shit and you’re not going to give up, you put those three things together and you’re going to be a great player."
“Those two dudes. Trent Williams is massive. Penei Sewell, big-ass—he’s big as hell, but he’s athletic and strong and he’s tough as hell.”
In the video below, the conversation about Sewell starts at the 44:10 mark.