Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions rookie Penei Sewell announced on Twitter Wednesday that he tested positive for COVID-19:

Found out this past weekend I tested positive for COVID. Really wish I was heading to my new home today and able to be at mini-camp with my new teammates and coaches. Look forward to getting out to the D as soon as I’m cleared!

— Penei Sewell (@peneisewell58) May 12, 2021

The tackle was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft and the first offensive lineman off the board.

Sewell was a first-team All-American for Oregon in 2019 but he opted out of the 2020 college football season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sewell later explained to Tyson Alger of The Athletic that the opt-out came due to the confusion around the Pac-12 plans:

I really felt lost because I didn't know what the Pac-12 leadership was going to do, whether they were going to cancel or postpone, and I was in the middle of this whole confusing cluster, and at times I was really annoyed by that. I wanted something that I could control and work towards, but once they canceled the season, I talked to my family and we made a decision to control our own destiny.

The Lions minicamp scheduled for May 14-16 was a chance for Sewell to return to the field, but he will now miss the upcoming training session.

There will still be high expectations for Sewell going forward, rated the No. 4 overall player in the class by Bleacher Report's Scouting Department. He was considered the best run-blocker and best pass-blocker among the offensive tackles in the class.

He is expected to compete for the starting right tackle spot in 2021 opposite left tackle Taylor Decker.

One day after being released by the Detroit Lions, Kerryon Johnson has been claimed by the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Eagles were awarded the waiver claim on Johnson. 

The Lions announced on Thursday they waived Johnson after he spent three seasons with the organization. 

Johnson will join an Eagles backfield that currently features Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and Jason Huntley. 

Sanders has been Philadelphia's No. 1 running back over the past two seasons. He did miss four games last season due to injuries, but still finished with 1,064 yards from scrimmage and six total touchdowns. 

Johnson played behind Adrian Peterson and D'Andre Swift last year in Detroit. He did appear in all 16 games for the first time in his career, but set career-lows with 71 touches and 368 yards.

As the Eagles enter their first season with Jalen Hurts as the full-time starting quarterback, surrounding him with as many skill-position players as possible will make things easier for his development. 

In 34 career games, Johnson has averaged 5.1 yards per touch and scored 11 touchdowns.

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff said he felt the team not selecting a quarterback in the 2021 NFL draft was a "vote of confidence" in his ability to lead the team. 

"We had some talks before the draft," Goff told reporters Thursday. "Again, I think it's a nice vote of confidence obviously for me. I think what's not lost on me is their first move as a staff, Brad and (coach) Dan (Campbell), involved me. It's exciting, and it makes you feel good."

Justin Fields and Mac Jones were both on the board when Detroit was on the clock with the No. 7 overall pick, but the team instead chose to begin rebuilding from the inside out, selecting offensive tackle Penei Sewell.

Goff liked the Sewell selection for multiple reasons:

"When I saw we took Penei, I know the staff was fired up, and so was I obviously as a quarterback. Any time you get help up front, that's always good. We got a lot of solid guys up there right now, and I think it's shaping up to hopefully be one of the top groups in the league. There's obviously a lot of work to do, and I know they know that. But there's a lot of good players up there right now, and as a quarterback, that's your best friend. So I'm excited for it."

The Lions acquired Goff along with two first-round picks (2022, 2023) and a 2021 third-round selection in exchange for Matthew Stafford in March. The deal was seen as both an attempted upgrade at quarterback and a salary dump for the Rams, who quickly grew to regret the four-year, $134 million contract extension Goff signed in 2019.

After making the Pro Bowl in 2017 and 2018, Goff regressed and became more mistake-prone over the last two seasons. He threw for 3,952 yards and 20 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 2020, ranking 23rd among starters in QBR (58.5) and 22nd in Football Outsiders' DVOA metric.

While Goff is a starter-worthy NFL quarterback, he's been below-average among starters for the last two seasons and the Rams feel they have a Super Bowl-quality roster with Stafford. 

It's unlikely the Lions see Goff as their long-term starter even though he'll enter the 2021 season as their unquestioned top option at the position. The Lions' rebuild is expected to take multiple years, and it'd be fair to call Goff something of a placeholder until the team finds a better option.

Only Goff's own play could change perception and stretch the "vote of confidence" beyond the 2021 season. 

Coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2020, Frank Ragnow has been rewarded with a long-term contract extension from the Detroit Lions. 

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Ragnow has agreed to a four-year deal worth an average of $13.5 million per season. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter noted the extension makes him the highest-paid center in the NFL. 

Per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Ragnow will receive $25.5 million fully guaranteed at signing and $42 million in total guarantees. 

Ragnow was under contract for two more seasons before agreeing to an extension. The Lions already committed to picking up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal for 2022, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 

The 2022 option guaranteed Ragnow $12.657 million. He will now be under contract through 2026. 

Corey Linsley previously held the title of highest-paid center in the NFL. He signed a five-year deal worth $12.5 million per season with the Los Angeles Chargers in March. 

Per Pro Football Focus, Ragnow's 80.4 overall grade since 2018 ranks sixth among all centers. 

The Lions selected Ragnow with the 20th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. He has started all 45 games he's played over the past three seasons. The 24-year-old played every snap in all 14 games he started in 2020. 

Ragnow was named to the All-Pro second team last season. 

The Detroit Lions are waiving running back Kerryon Johnson, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 

Drafted Jermar Jefferson in Round 7, makes Kerryon expendable https://t.co/W2JPqsVPTE

— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) May 5, 2021

The former Auburn star who earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2017 was selected No. 43 overall by Detroit in 2018, but has struggled to establish himself in the NFL. In three seasons, Johnson rushed for 1,225 total yards and eight touchdowns on 283 attempts over 18 games. He also caught 61 passes for 527 yards and three touchdowns. 

the tailback now joins a free-agent market that already includes veterans Duke Johnson, Todd Gurley, Rex Burkhead, Adrian Peterson, Frank Gore, Le'Veon Bell and LeSean McCoy. 

Johnson's standing with Detroit took a hit when the Lions drafted tailback D'Andre Swift out of Georgia last year. With the franchise taking Oregon State's Jermar Jefferson in the seventh round this year, there was little use for Johnson. 

Detroit had the third-worst rushing offense in the league in 2020, averaging 93.7 yards per game with 17 touchdowns. 

Following the firing of head coach Matt Patrica and the hiring of Dan Campbell as his replacement, Johnson became expendable with the Lions retooling yet again. 

The Alabama native is just 23 years old and could provide teams with a value depth option, especially once training camps open and injuries begin to crop up around the league. 

For now, he hits unrestricted free agency and looks to find a new home as soon as possible.

The Detroit Lions had little trouble replacing Matthew Stafford with Jared Goff this offseason when the longtime signal-caller requested a trade, and they decided to move forward with Goff by passing on a quarterback in the draft.

But that wasn't necessarily the plan. Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell was the team's pick at No. 7, but general manager Brad Holmes said the team would have looked at quarterbacks had the star not fallen to them.

"If there was a quarterback that was just like graded way higher over Penei we would have had to strongly consider that," Holmes said, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "But it unfortunately for our sakes, it wasn't—Penei was the highest-rated guy when we took him."

They also signed Tim Boyle, who appeared in 11 games with the Green Bay Packers across the last two seasons, in free agency. 

Goff, who turns 27 in October, is headed to Detroit off of five years with the Los Angeles Rams, who drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2016. The two-time Pro Bowler threw for 3,952 yards and 20 touchdowns last season with 13 interceptions, making his third consecutive season with at least 12 picks. 

The Lions haven't drafted a quarterback since 2017, when they selected Brad Kaaya out of Miami in the sixth round. 

Sewell is still a solid pick for a team that already boasted one of the stronger offensive lines in the league. The 2019 Outlander Trophy winner as the top offensive lineman in the country. Sewell—who is the youngest player to be drafted by the Lions in franchise history—will likely start at right tackle, where he reportedly began training in the weeks leading up to the draft, per Brandon Judd of the Deseret News. 

"He's just a transcendent talent. I can't remember a guy with feet like him in a long time," Holmes told reporters. "It's not just athletic ability; he's got the toughness that we're looking for. He comes from a football family, his dad's a coach, and his brothers are college football players. We love the make up, and we couldn't be more jacked about landing Penei." 

Former Arkansas running back Rakeem Boyd, who previously starred in Netflix's Last Chance U, signed a contract with the Detroit Lions after going undrafted in the 2021 NFL draft.

Boyd announced he reached an agreement with the Lions on Saturday.

"Swear ima make em pay.. been in this position before," Boyd wrote regarding the teams that passed him up in the draft.

5️⃣ on his way to Detroit! #ProHogs pic.twitter.com/MHrZQqRPfM

— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) May 2, 2021

Boyd—a superstar prep running back with a tragic backstory after his family was displaced during Hurricane Katrina—was one of the most notable stars of Last Chance U. He transferred to Independence Community College for the 2017 season after spending one year at Texas A&M, rushing for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns to earn a scholarship at Arkansas.

In three seasons at Arkansas, Boyd rushed for 2,176 yards and 13 touchdowns. His injury-plagued senior season ended after only six games as he left school in December to further prepare for the NFL draft.

"People know what I can do when healthy," Boyd told Jason Butt of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Y'all saw fall camp, stuff like that. Not to be cocky or anything, but I was a 1,000-yard back. The year before I almost hit 1,000 yards. I already showed that I had enough film that I could step up to that level. I was ready for that level already."

The Lions also drafted Oregon State running back Jermar Jefferson in the seventh round, so Jefferson and Boyd will likely compete for a roster spot in camp. Detriot will bring back incumbent backs D'Andre Swift and Kerryon Johnson, and the team also signed Jamaal Williams in free agency.

The likey battle between Boyd and Jefferson in camp may be determined by which player proves he can help out on special teams.

HEIGHT: 6'2 1/2"

WEIGHT: 209 lbs

      

POSITIVES

—Good size and length. 

—Good catching range and ability to come up with contested catches. Consistently uses his length to extend for throws. Will win more 50-50 balls than most.

—Comfortable extending and above-average overall hands. Shows good body control on back-shoulder throws and is a consistent weapon on those.

         

NEGATIVES

—Below-average speed and acceleration, even for size. Doesn't consistently open up or separate from defenders.

—Below-average route-runner. Very herky-jerky with his route stems and will play high when breaking, leaving himself vulnerable to physical DBs. Loose at the top of his route.

—Subpar foot quickness on his releases. 

      

2019 STATISTICS

9 G, 66 rec., 1001 yards, 15.2 avg., 11 TD

      

NOTES

—Opted out of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

      

OVERALL

Sage Surratt is a big outside WR with a basketball background that shows up in his play. He treats every reception opportunity like he's getting the ball in the post and lacks suddenness and subtlety with his play. Surratt utilizes his good size and length and shows catching range and strength to win on contested catches, but he lacks adequate speed and acceleration and struggles to separate from defenders along with showing an overall lack of route-running ability.

Surratt is best utilized in the red zone, where he can use his size and catching range, but he has a limited skill set and lacks quick-twitch speed. Surratt will have to make a living on special teams early on and continue to develop polish at the WR position before he can play every down while being exposed to NFL CBs. His lack of overall athleticism may limit that trajectory.

          

GRADE: 6.3/10 (Round 7)

OVERALL RANK: 278/300

POSITION RANK: WR38

PRO COMPARISON: JJ Arcega-Whiteside 

      

Written by B/R NFL Scout Nate Tice

HEIGHT: 6'1 7/8"

WEIGHT: 293

POSITIVES

—Stocky, compact build with good natural leverage and a spring in his first step

—Solid play strength and stopping power with a physical, stout playing style 

—Very good initial quickness out of his stance to beat defenders to the spot and establish quick leverage

—Strong, active hands to create initial torque and pin defensive linemen (0-2i techniques) on zone concepts

—Crafty in the number of ways he can secure a block; using his hands, forearms and shoulders to create displacement

—Quarterbacks the offensive line by making all of the line calls and shows starter-level command pre-snap

NEGATIVES

—Significantly undersized in terms of height, weight, girth and length

—Adequate athletic ability and range on screens and deeper climbs to the second/third levels

—Will struggle to press and widen defenders who knock down his hands and get to his edge quickly 

—Lacks the explosive power to consistently move hulking nose tackles off the ball on angle-drive blocks 

—Catches blocks at the second level and will get pressed and stacked quickly against linebackers

2020 STATISTICS

—11 starts at center

—Team captain

NOTES

—Invited and participated in the 2021 Senior Bowl. Suffered a grade-one sprain of his AC joint on the second play and finished the game

—47 career game appearances with 44 consecutive starts at center

—Graduated in December of 2020 with his master’s degree in Kinesiology 

—Four-star recruit ranked as the nation’s second-best center by 247Sports

—Father Brian played football at Purdue and his brother is a center at North Texas

OVERALL

Jackson is a four-year starter and team captain in 2020 who exudes starter-level competitive toughness, smarts and craftiness to function inside a zone-based run scheme where he can focus on creating lateral displacement on defenders.

Jackson is considerably undersized to the point of being a potential liability against top competition in the NFL, but he has the natural leverage, use of hands and initial quickness to compete for a spot in-between a strong guard pairing who can help protect his edges in pass protection.

GRADE: 6.8/10 (Round 6)

OVERALL RANK: 205/300

POSITION RANK: IOL25

PRO COMPARISON: A.Q. Shipley

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

HEIGHT: 5'10 1/8"

WEIGHT: 206 lbs

       

POSITIVES

—Consistently patient running style when trying to read the flow and find the hole to attack. Shows very good vision on zone concepts. Knows when to plant his foot and get north.

—Able to stay under control when cutting and also going through arm tackles. Above-average overall body control and good foot quickness. Plays with a measured running style.

—Above-average hands, comfortable receiving the ball out of the backfield.

—Has good bulk and plays with above-average play strength. Not a bruiser but runs hard and consistently falls forward while getting tackled.

—Physical in pass protection. Willing to bring it and shows good eyes.

—Efficient overall runner. He is going to maximize what is blocked for him. Best in an outside-zone scheme but shows good understanding of other blocking concepts like duo and outside pin-pull.

      

NEGATIVES

—More of a smooth than explosive athlete. One-speed runner who lacks a fifth and even fourth gear.

—Will get tripped up in space from arm tackles and struggle to keep his feet. Can leave some meat on the bone once he gets to the second level.

—Doesn't make defenders miss in space, very straight-line movements.

—Top-end speed leaves a little to be desired.

         

2020 STATISTICS

6 G, 133 att. 858 yards 6.5 avg, 7 TD, 9 rec 67 yards

      

NOTES

—2018 PAC-12 Freshman Offensive POY

       

OVERALL

Jermar Jefferson is a patient RB with above-average size and very good vision. Jefferson shows a good understanding of a variety of run concepts and is unlocked on outside zone and duo concepts that take advantage of his patience and ability to get north quickly off of a cut.

While he has enough play strength to consistently run through weak arm tackles, he doesn't make a ton of defenders miss once he gets to the second level and has a habit of not being able to keep his feet on shoelace tackles. The plus side is that he does fall forward on these trip-ups. Jefferson is an efficient runner and player overall, with above-average hands out of the backfield, too.

It is best to look at Jefferson as a RB prospect with not a lot of nuance to his game, but he is going to maximize whatever is blocked for him and will be a great fit for any outside-zone-heavy team that utilizes a RB committee, with the chance to efficiently eat some carries when thrust into a starting role.

          

GRADE: 7.25/10 (Future role player, 4th round)

OVERALL RANK: 125/300

POSITION RANK: RB6

PRO COMPARISON: Alfred Morris

        

Written by B/R NFL Scout Nate Tice