Daily DLP: Defending Penei Sewell's Greatness Detroit Lions Podcast

Penei Sewell is an elite NFL offensive tackle, not the 10th-best, as ESPN pundit Mike Clay ranked him. He finished third in pass protection efficiency at 98.2 with only two sacks, six hits, 11 hurries, and 19 total pressures allowed, plus a 95.1 overall and 96.7 run blocking grade from Pro Football Focus.
Is ESPN underrating Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell?
Yes. Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell ranks among the NFL’s best, not 10th. As Jeff Risdon noted, Pro Football Focus graded Sewell at 95.1 overall with a 96.7 run blocking grade, and he allowed just two sacks, six quarterback hits, 11 hurries, and 19 total pressures in 2025. Those results track with a 98.2 pass protection efficiency, which placed him third among qualifying tackles.
ESPN’s ranking leans on a proprietary pass block win rate and on the note that Sewell is moving sides. Risdon acknowledged that switching from right tackle to left tackle is a fair consideration, but he emphasized Sewell has played left tackle in the NFL and handled it well. Every visible performance marker says he belongs at the top tier.
Does pass block win rate measure what matters in protection?
No. What matters is not losing, and Sewell rarely loses. As Jeff Risdon said, the ESPN metric is subjective and measures “wins,” while pass protection success is about preventing losses. Sewell’s 98.2 efficiency shows he prevents losses as well as almost anyone, backed by only 19 total pressures conceded across a 50 percent of 1,294 snaps qualifier pool.
Context also matters. Protection can change based on a tight end’s alignment, the guard inside, or compensating for interior issues. Risdon pointed out that Detroit often had to shade inside last year because the center struggled, and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is not mobile under quick pressure. That reality affects how any tackle is scored snap to snap.
How should fans view the Detroit Lions offensive line at 19th?
As conservative. The unit projects better than 19th even with moving parts. Risdon accepted ESPN’s 19th as a defensible output for a formula, noting the Lions have starters at three new positions, but he stated Detroit will outperform that slot.
Continuity takes time, but the cornerstone is overwhelming. Sewell’s dominance stabilizes the front, and Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley can lean on elite edge play while integrating the new starters. That foundation raises the floor and the ceiling for the group.
What do the comps say about other top NFL tackles?
They reinforce Sewell’s standing. In pass protection efficiency, Denver Broncos offensive tackle Garrett Bolles ranked first and New York Giants offensive tackle Andrew Thomas second, with Sewell third at 98.2. Pro Football Focus also showed Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs at 92.7 overall, while Sewell’s pass protection grade of 80.3 matched San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams and topped San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Colton McKivitz.
Risdon added that Sewell’s pressure totals were equivalent with Chicago Bears offensive tackle Darnell Wright, and he flagged Detroit Lions offensive tackle Larry Borom appearing in the top 10 for pass rush efficiency as an encouraging pickup. The eye test and the data converge on the same conclusion: Sewell is elite, and Detroit’s line trends up from a formulaic 19th.

#detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #peneisewell #espntackleranking #profootballfocus #darnellwright #pff #olrankings #lionsoffensiveline
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices