Detroit Lions

HEIGHT: 6'4 ⅞"

WEIGHT: 331

POSITIVES

—Elite frame, build, play speed and power.

—Explosively springs out of his stance to gain ground with efficient footwork, balance and weight distribution as a pass protector and run-blocker with special ability to recover from compromising positions.

—Has plenty of range in his pass set to beat wide-9 speed-rushers to the spot without help, showing the range to expand his set points and mirror rushers up the arc.

—Shows a variety of pass sets and hand techniques (patience, flash/bait techniques, snatch/trap, circle punch) to keep rushers guessing.

—Outstanding hand placement to quickly latch onto the armpit/inside of the shoulder pad to create leverage in pass protection.

—Excellent grip strength and power as a run-blocker to widen the frontside DE on kickouts, drive and seal DTs on down blocks and create vertical displacement on double-teams.

—Plays alert when uncovered with special anticipatory skills to adapt and process new information quickly.

—Moves like a gazelle in space to locate, track and connect on smaller targets with regularity; Oregon's offense used him as a featured piece in the game plan on numerous occasions to capitalize on this ability.

—Experienced inside/outside zone run-blocker with the skill set to fit into any scheme.

NEGATIVES

—Needs to keep his pads down and feet moving in pass protection after first contact to prevent giving up half man (the corner) to skilled rushers who can string moves together late in the rush (ex: 2019 vs. Bradlee Anae x 2 and 2019 vs. Zack Baun x 1).

—Can shore up his aiming points when securing and bumping over the first-level defender on double-teams; tended to use a 'flipper' or throw a shoulder without lining up his target first, causing him to whiff and lose his balance before his climb.

2020 STATISTICS

—Opted out of the 2020 season

NOTES

—Will be 20 years old Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season (turns 21 in October).

—21 career games played with 20 starts.

—2019 Outland Trophy and Morris Trophy winner.

—2019 AP Pac-12 Co-Offensive Player of the Year.

—2019 unanimous first-team All-American.

—Zero sacks allowed on 926 snaps and led the team with 58 knockdowns in 2019.

—In 2018, became the first Oregon true freshman offensive lineman to start the first game of the season since 1997.

—Missed six games in 2018 with a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 6 against Washington. Made it back for their bowl game against Michigan State six weeks later.

  

OVERALL

Sewell played every snap at Oregon as a teenager while showing exceptional physical tools and traits for the position that don't come around often. He can handle himself on an island as a pass protector and in space with remarkable efficiency, balance and power. He uses precise hand placement and clamping grip strength to create quick leverage on defenders to sustain, steer and control them around the field.

His aiming points as a run-blocker and adjustments against refined pass-rush moves can be polished up, but the foundational traits are there in spades. Sewell's football intelligence and ability to grasp concepts quickly allow him to make adjustments on the fly to cover schematic blindspots, giving him the makings of an immediate-impact starter with room to grow into an All-Pro.

GRADE: 9.0/10 (Top 10)

OVERALL RANK: 4/300

POSITION RANK: OT1

PRO COMPARISON: La’El Collins

    

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

Potential trade suitors are being put off by the Detroit Lions' demands for the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, according to CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora.

La Canfora reported the Lions are getting a lot of interest in the selection but that other teams believe they are "overplaying their hand."

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Monday that the Lions and Carolina Panthers, who have the No. 8 pick, "have been fielding a lot of phone calls." He speculated teams might be moving up to get one of the top offensive tackles or quarterbacks still on the board:

Several teams have been making calls about getting into the top 10 of next week’s NFL Draft — including the #Patriots, who could have their eyes on Ohio State QB Justin Fields if he begins to slide. @gmfb @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/GjJazJXZQp

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 26, 2021

Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN also reported Detroit unsuccessfully attempted to trade up to No. 4, where the Atlanta Falcons presently sit, to land LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase.

Rather than misjudging the value of their first-round selection, head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes might be purposefully setting their asking price high because they don't want to trade down all that much.

Collecting as many draft picks as possible would make sense for the Lions because they're only beginning their rebuild and thus have a lot of needs to fill across their roster. At the same time, staying at No. 7 would allow them to get somebody who could be a foundational piece on either side of the ball.

In the B/R NFL Scouting Department's final mock draft, Detroit is projected to get Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater. Taylor Decker is signed through 2024, so the team wouldn't have to worry about the tackle position for the foreseeable future if Slater panned out.

The Detroit Lions looked into a trade with the Atlanta Falcons for the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano. 

LSU star Ja'Marr Chase was the player Detroit would've reportedly targeted, but Atlanta was demanding a price too steep for the Lions' taste.

Two of Detroit's top two receivers (Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola) are gone, as is 2019 Pro Bowler Kenny Golladay.

To say the Lions haven't adequately addressed their departures would be a bit of an understatement. Ourlads currently lists Breshad Perriman, Tyrell Williams and Kalif Raymond as the three starting wideouts heading into the 2021 season.

While T.J. Hockenson is coming off his first Pro Bowl nod, the situation isn't ideal for Jared Goff in his first year with the team.

Chase is an obvious solution, but he may not be on the board when the Lions are on the clock with the seventh overall pick. The 6'0" pass-catcher is off the board to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 5 in the B/R NFL Scouting Department's Mock Draft 1.0. Alabama's Jaylen Waddle went to Detroit instead.

Waddle, fellow Crimson Tide star DeVonta Smith or Minnesota's Rashod Bateman wouldn't be bad alternatives, and they likely wouldn't require the Lions to give up any draft capital. In the event Chase isn't available, waiting until the second round wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, either. In B/R's final big board, eight receivers are among the top 40 overall players.

The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to have wound up with solid value in 2020 second-round pick Chase Claypool, and the 2019 draft included three second-rounders (A.J. Brown, Mecole Hardman and DK Metcalf) who have become Pro Bowlers, though Hardman was recognized as a return specialist.

In general, Detroit shouldn't go into panic mode if Chase isn't there.

Currently slated to pick seventh in the 2021 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions are open to making a trade if the right deal comes along. 

Speaking to reporters on a predraft press conference, Lions general manager Brad Holmes said they have had discussions with other teams interested in the No. 7 pick. 

"There has been discussion with other teams," Holmes said. "I will keep those in-house but there has been discussions."

Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell are heading into their first season with the Lions. They appear to be leading the organization into a rebuild after trading Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams and not re-signing Kenny Golladay in free agency. 

The Stafford deal gave Detroit extra first-round picks in 2022 and 2023. The team also got Jared Goff in the trade to provide a steady hand at quarterback for the time being, but Holmes and Campbell have the ability to draft one of the top players at the position. 

Detroit's defense ranked last in the NFL in points allowed last season. There are several high-caliber defensive players in this year's draft class, including Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons and Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II, if that's the direction the front office wants to go. 

One benefit of being in a full-scale rebuild is it affords a team the luxury of doing anything without feeling pressure to address an individual position. 

The Lions currently have six picks in this year's draft, including four of the first 101 selections. 

The Detroit Lions have been "connected to" Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons as an option for the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 draft, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB.

Breer also noted the Lions have "generated buzz as a trade-down team."

The top of the draft is expected to be extremely quarterback-heavy, led by Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson, while offensive playmakers like Kyle Pitts, Ja'Marr Chase and Devonta Smith are also considered top options. It could leave the Lions to select their favorite defensive player either with the seventh pick or possibly even later.

Defense should be a priority for Detroit in the draft after finishing last season dead last in both points and yards allowed in 2020.

Despite using the No. 3 overall pick on cornerback Jeff Okudah last year, the team gave up 38 passing touchdowns, the most in the NFL. The run defense wasn't much better, ranking 28th in the league in rushing yards allowed.

Adding Parsons, a versatile player who contributes in many areas defensively, could help turn things around.

Bleacher Report's Justis Mosqueda listed the Penn State product as both the best blitzer and best run-stopper in the class.

Though Parsons opted out of the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he was a star as a sophomore in 2019 with 109 tackles, including 14 for loss, and five sacks. He also turned heads at his pro day, reportedly running the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds.

"That's wide receiver fast!"

Here's a quick look at @MicahhParsons11's very impressive @PennStateFball Pro Day performance. 👀 pic.twitter.com/bbXkrDh9mb

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 25, 2021

It represents a lot of upside for a player who could make an early impact in the NFL.

The Detroit Lions may not be done making predraft trades despite having already moved quarterback Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff to begin the offseason. 

According to The Athletic's Ben Standig, a senior executive claimed the Lions are "looking for another deal and trying to move down from" selecting at No. 7 overall. 

Per Standig:

"While [Ja'Marr] Chase, [Jaylen] Waddle or [Penei] Sewell would help immediately, Detroit could take advantage of teams aching for a quarterback, wide receiver or Sewell, who could also benefit the Lions. New GM Brad Holmes acquired Goff from his old team for the purpose of giving the No. 1 pick in 2016 a new starting opportunity.

"As for the trade market, the Eagles are exploring a move into the top 10 despite having just dropped from No. 6 to No. 12. Having acquired a first-round pick in 2022 from the Dolphins, the Eagles could move up and still net more assets."

Quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields and Trey Lance are expected to come off the board within the first 10 picks. While the Lions could use another threat under center in case Goff doesn't work out, there are a few needier teams who may be worth dangling the No. 7 pick in front of. 

Detroit doesn't even need to look outside its own NFC North division for that. 

The Chicago Bears are expected to head into the season with Andy Dalton and Nick Foles as their top two quarterbacks, while the Minnesota Vikings have Kirk Cousins under contract until the end of the 2022 season. 

Detroit's second pick comes in at No. 41 overall. For a rebuilding franchise, the No. 7 pick is already pretty valuable. Flipping it into even more picks, however, is a risk worth exploring. 

The Detroit Lions have become the fourth NFL team to opt out of offseason workouts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In a statement released by the NFL Players Association, the Lions cited "no acceptable resolution to our union's negotiations with the NFL over comprehensive COVID-19 protocols" as their reasoning for not participating in offseason workouts:

A statement from the Detroit Lions players: pic.twitter.com/Ew2piOTMIk

— NFLPA (@NFLPA) April 14, 2021

Detroit's decision comes one day after players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos announced they would not take part in voluntary workouts. 

The NFL and NFLPA have yet to agree to terms on COVID-19 protocols for the offseason workout period. The league has taken steps to encourage all employees to get vaccinated, though it is not a requirement. 

In a memo from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to all 32 teams (h/t NFL Network's Tom Pelissero), any club employee who refuses to get the vaccine without a "bona fide medical (reason) or religious ground" will have restricted access. 

Here’s the full NFL memo, which also says teams must report weekly the number of employees who are vaccinated, as conversations with the NFLPA continue on the thresholds at which protocols on testing, PPE, travel, etc., can be relaxed. pic.twitter.com/FXuIhFP6Vh

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 13, 2021

Goodell also encouraged teams to open their stadiums and training facilities as vaccination sites for players, staff and family members. 

The NFL announced last month that it will have relaxed regulations for the draft, including up to 10 people with no mask requirement in the war room, so long as team employees have been fully vaccinated. 

Some teams have historically held a voluntary workout period prior to the draft, followed by organized team activities in late-May and early-June, with a mandatory minicamp in mid-June. 

Detroit Lions president Rod Wood announced that Detroit is "in the mix" to host the 2024 NFL draft and further clarified that the city is a "serious contender" to do so. 

Chris Burke of The Athletic relayed the comments from Wood.

Detroit has never hosted the NFL draft before, although Michigan has hosted major NFL events.

Pontiac, Michigan, the former home of the Lions before they moved to Ford Field in Detroit, hosted Super Bowls in 1982 and 2006.

The NFL draft was held in New York City from 1965-2014 before Chicago hosted it in 2015 and 2016. The draft has since been held in Philadelphia, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and Nashville. Last year's draft was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The next three drafts will be held in Cleveland, Las Vegas and Kansas City.

It's known that Green Bay, Wisconsin is a finalist to host the 2024 NFL draft.

Green Bay Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy announced that information on a shareholders call in July 2020, per Wes Hodkiewicz of the team's official website.

Murphy also spoke about the possibility when talking with reporters on Tuesday, per Mike Spofford of the team's website. He said that a decision on the 2024 draft location isn't expected until owners meet in October.

For now, the Lions and Packers are focused on this year's draft. Detroit holds the No. 7 overall pick, and Green Bay will begin their draft with the 29th selection.

The Detroit Lions have reportedly made an adjustment to Jared Goff's contract in order to clear cap space for the 2021 season. 

Per ESPN's Field Yates, the Lions converted $20 million of Goff's base salary this season into a signing bonus that clears $15 million in cap space for 2021:

The Lions have converted $20M of Jared Goff’s salary into a signing bonus, creating $15M in cap space for 2021.

This move will add $5M cap charges to Goff’s deal over the 2022-2024 season, while Detroit gets operating room for the rest of this offseason.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 24, 2021

Per Spotrac, Goff will only count $10.325 million against the 2021 cap.

The Lions are in a really good cap situation after converting Goff's salary into a signing bonus. 

They currently have $26.1 million available this offseason but are only committed to $158.55 million in salaries next year and $121.96 million in 2023. 

Detroit appears to be entering the first stage of a rebuilding process under new head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes. Matthew Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in a package for Goff and three draft picks, including first-rounders in 2022 and 2023. 

Goff will be the Lions starting quarterback in 2021. He is coming off a disappointing season in Los Angeles, despite helping the team reach the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs. The 26-year-old threw for 3,952 yards, 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 15 starts last year. 

The Lions are coming off three consecutive last-place finishes in the NFC North under former head coach Matt Patricia. They went 5-11 in 2020 and haven't won more than six games in a season since 2017.   

Michael Brockers avoided a potentially awkward situation with Jared Goff now that they are teammates again with the Detroit Lions. 

Brockers, who previously played with the Los Angeles Rams, told TMZ Sports earlier this month he believed the team was leveling up by acquiring Matthew Stafford to play quarterback. 

"I don't want to say a lock for the Super Bowl, but with having a quarterback like that, and just seeing what we did last year and just seeing what he can bring to this team, there's no wonder why we can't [win the Super Bowl]," he added. 

Appearing Monday on 97.1 The Ticket's Karsch & Anderson Show, Goff said Brockers "apologized very quickly" even before the Lions made the move to acquire the veteran defensive tackle. 

"I love Brock," Goff added. "Sometimes it happens, but that guy is my guy. I love Brock and he reached out to me very quickly after that and [there's] no ill will. We're all good."

The Rams announced on March 17 they were sending Brockers to Detroit in exchange for a future draft pick. 

Goff and Brockers spent the past five seasons as teammates in Los Angeles. The 30-year-old played with the Rams for nine years after being selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.