Sports
Detroit Lions Draft Penei Sewell With No. 7 Pick In NFL Draft
The Lions bolstered their offensive line by taking a tackle from Oregon in the first round.
DETROIT — The Detroit Lions drafted Penei Sewell, an offensive tackle from the University of Oregon, with the No. 7 selection in the 2021 NFL Draft Thursday night in Cleveland.
Sewell, a 6-foot-5-inch, 331-pound lineman, comes to Detroit and joins a group of young linemen, including left tackle Taylor Decker and center Frank Ragnow.
According to The Associated Press, Sewell offers elite size and athleticism. He gets off the ball quickly and blocks downfield.
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"There are some technique issues, but he doesn’t turn 21 until October and has all the upside you’d want," The Associated Press wrote in a breakdown of Sewell, who opted out of last year's NCAA season.
Sewell is the first offensive lineman drafted in the top 10 by Detroit since Lomas Brown in 1985 at No. 6, according to the AP.
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The pick was in line with what the Lions were expected to do, according to ESPN NFL Nation reports' latest mock draft.
The first round of the draft will wrap up Thursday evening. Rounds 2-3 will follow on Friday at 7 p.m. Eastern Time and rounds 4-7 on Saturday at noon. All picks will be broadcast live on ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network.
According to an NFL.com analysis, other needs the Lions have include wide receiver, linebacker, safety and cornerback.
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