Penei Sewell #58 of the Detroit Lions (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
When the Detroit Lions selected Oregon Ducks offensive tackle Penei Sewell with the seventh pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, it sent shockwaves throughout the One Pride fanbase. A brief view of the atmosphere surrounding the team’s draft room amongst the front office staff after the pick was made quite well illustrates the excitement of landing a young elite cornerstone tackle who is perceived and expected to be one of the leaders of the franchise for years to come.
The 20-year old American Samoan, Sewell, whose family relocated to the Utah area prior to his enrolment at Oregon college, plays with a level of aggressiveness and grit that creates havoc for opposing defenses.