Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dale Bliss |
On the ESPN morning show Get Up host Mike Greenberg called Oregon Outland Trophy winner, Unanimous All-American, first round draft pick and All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions “the best player in pro football.”
ESPN analyst Adam Schefter added, “He’s the best offensive lineman in the game and it might not be close.”
Born in American Samoa, from Desert Hills High School in St. George, Utah, the 6-5, 335-pound offensive lineman joined the Ducks in 2018 as a five-star recruit. He started seven games as a freshman while missing 6 with an ankle injury.
As a sophomore in 2019 he helped lead the team to the Rose Bowl, earning Unanimous All-American honors and the Outland Award as the nation’s best lineman on a squad that finished 12-2.
He declared for the NFL draft after the 2020 season, picked #7 overall in the first round by the Lions, who moved him from left to right tackle.
Now in his fourth year in the league, Sewell’s been named to the Pro Bowl twice. This summer he signed a 4-year, $112,000,000 contract extension with the Detroit Lions, including $15,000,000 signing bonus,
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With the former Duck as the anchor the Lions have become a powerhouse in the NFC, 9-1 this season with the inside track to top seeding and a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Motor City monsters are third in the league in rushing at 152 yards a game, 4th in sacks allowed at just 19 this season while throwing for 243 yards a game.