Wednesday was a big day for the Detroit Lions. Shortly after signing Amon-Ra St. Brown to a four-year extensionDetroit has agreed to terms with offensive tackle Penei Sewell on a four-year extension worth $112 million, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL, according to NFL Media.
Sewell fully deserves his new title as the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league. An immediate starter in Detroit, Sewell was named to the Pro Bowl in 2022 while helping the Lions post a winning record. In 2023, he was named an All-Pro while playing an integral role in getting the Lions to a Super Bowl game.
Sewell’s presence helped the Lions move into fifth place in the NFL in offensive scoring last season. Quarterback Jared Goff had two of his best seasons in the NFL with Sewell protecting him. Running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs also benefited from Sewell’s blocking. Last season, they nearly became the eighth set of teammates in NFL history to both rush for more than 1,000 yards in the same season.
The success Sewell enjoyed in Detroit is even more significant considering he was a top-10 draft pick. In fact, the Bengals, who needed an offensive tackle at the time, instead opted to select Ja’Marr Chase, who had his fifth year option was chosen Wednesday.
Cincinnati certainly doesn’t regret its decision to draft Chase, but as Wednesday made clear, the Lions are clearly happy with Sewell and their decision to draft him three years ago.
