Penei Sewell is not the first name that jumps out when people start talking about MVPs, but in Detroit, the idea has real weight.
The Lions have built one of the NFL’s most dangerous offenses around Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown, which makes the value conversation tricky from the start.
Goff has put together excellent seasons in Detroit without getting close to the award, while Gibbs looks poised to make his own push this year. Even so, running backs have a tough road in the modern MVP race.
That’s why NFL.com analyst Kevin Patra took a different route when he identified the league’s top non-quarterback MVP candidates and landed on Sewell for Detroit.
“The assumption that Sewell will move from right to left tackle without missing a beat speaks to the blocker’s talent. Few expect him to stumble, yet it’s easier said than done -- even perennial Pro Bowler Tristan Wirfs saw his efficiency dip slightly in his first season after making the same move in Tampa in 2023.
If Sewell pulls it off without a hitch and remains an All-Pro, his standing among his peers will be solidified. Sewell’s importance to the Lions getting back on track is obvious.
The entire offensive line rework rests on his ability to protect Jared Goff’s blind side, stabilize the young unit and get an explosive offense going again. He is the keystone in Detroit.”
That’s the heart of the argument. If Sewell handles the move and keeps playing at an All-Pro level, he would be doing more than just changing spots on the line. He would be anchoring the protection for Goff, helping open the ground game for Gibbs and giving Detroit the kind of stability that defines elite offenses.
With Decker out of the picture, Sewell is set to become the longest-tenured Lion up front. That puts even more on his plate, and it also makes him the face of the group in a way he hasn’t quite been before.
Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley has already seen enough to believe Sewell can make the transition smoothly.
“I told him it's like riding a bike. You can go years without riding a bike mentally and then you get on, you just got to find your balance, your timing, how you pedal, how you do all that.
It's been a long time since he's done (left tackle) consistently. His rookie year, we didn't think he was playing right tackle or left tackle, and then something happened to (Taylor) Decker, and he had to jump over there without any practice.
It took a little bit, but he's transitioned pretty smoothly.”
Fraley also pointed to Sewell’s athleticism and the way he approaches the work.
“Everybody knows he's a very good athlete. He takes pride in his work, and it's just ironing out that stuff, the timing of the punch.
You build habits and that's what (practice) is about, you're building those habits. You got to break old habits, and a lot of it is footwork, balance, weight distribution.
You're used to a right-handed stance, now you're getting on the left constantly. It's building those habits, breaking old ones, building new ones, and being comfortable there.”
Sewell has already spent years being one of Detroit’s most dependable players, even if his work has often been quiet compared with the stars around him. He may not end up in the actual MVP race, but the Lions know exactly how much he matters.
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