Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes has his first draft class in the books. It’s a sneaky good weapon for Jared Goff and the Detroit offense to find right off the bat after defensive fixes. Lions draft picks in 2021. Barnes is an intriguing defensive player who started his college career as a defensive end and shifted over to more of a coverage linebacker … Well, some of them. Dan Campbell said he wanted to bite knees, bite toes and knock of elbows and all of that. This was a savvy pick for a needy Lions secondary that got picked on last year. Sewell was the No. 7 overall) - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon: The first pick of the new regime in … READ NEXT: Lions UDFA Tracker: Detroit Lands Top Wideout, Grading the Lions Draft: Brad Holmes Earns High Marks for 2021, Copyright © 2021 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Sewell is a violent blocker who will maul anyone trying to get to his QB, and whether that’s Jared Goff right now, or a new player in the future, Detroit has a 10+ year cornerstone. Sports Illustrated - Logan Lamorandier grades the entire 2021 Detroit draft class and the work of general manager Brad Holmes The NFL Draft is finally finished, and new …. His hand placement could use some tweaking. The Lions get a potential Hall of Famer with this pick and can bolster their offensive line. He’s a fantastic prospect who plays a premium position and has plenty of room to grow. Detroit Lions take Oregon OL Penei Sewell with No. Some wondered if the Detroit Lions would pick one of the top quarterbacks on … He's smooth in pass protection and also a long-term rock for the running game.". Detroit Lions NFL draft picks 2021: Analysis for every selection 3d Eric Woodyard Kiper's final NFL mock draft: A trade for the Patriots, and a new landing spot for Justin Fields Anyway, here are my 2021 draft grades for the Lions. … Penei Sewell, great to see him go in the top 10. Much like his predecessor, he decided to put his stamp on the roster by going with a franchise offensive tackle to build upon. T. Well, some of them. Sewell is my top-ranked tackle and should slot in as a starter from day one. Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett grades the Detroit Lions' 2021 NFL draft class.. Best pick: Penei Sewell. If there is a problem with this pick, it’s the fact that the Lions have so much depth at running back. Simply stunning to see Melifonwu on the board at this juncture, but the Lions scooped up a super-athletic player who figures to come in and compete in what is a young Lions cornerback room. Sewell gives the Lions much-needed protection for new quarterback Jared Goff. The Lions used the seventh-overall pick on former Oregon Duck Penei Sewell. Click here for the entire 2021 NFL Draft order and keep reading to see who the Lions take in the 2021 NFL Draft. In a deep draft for wideouts, the team could afford to be choosy and they elected not to fill the need early on and simply scoop up the best lineman. Doubling up on defensive line wasn’t a move that was expected, but McNeill can move like few people his size can up front. Trenches, defense, a few flash players on offense and all-around good football players is the theme of this draft. "The Lions satisfied a massive roster need by selecting an offensive tackle with All-Pro potential. ", "For a new front office and coaching regime that has preached toughness and, as head coach Dan Campbell put it, a bite-off-knee-caps mentality, going offensive line with their first pick just makes too much sense. Amon-Ra St. Brown makes a catch in the Pac-12 title game. He scored a 2.28 RAS out of a possible 10.00. Tough to fault them for that when Sewell is arguably the best tackle prospect since Joe Thomas. At the risk of being Mr. The Detroit Lions didn't have the feel of a complete team when they entered the 2016 NFL draft. ", "The Lions had been linked to a defensive player for much of the pre-draft process, but the value here was just too good to pass up. "They probably thought he wouldn't be here, so they had to be happy he was. He is tough, a good route runner and a savvy wideout who knows how to get open. Here is a complete list of Detroit Lions draft picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, updated as selections are made. Taylor Decker is still at left tackle, but he's getting older and Sewell can start and immediately upgrade right tackle with Halapoulivaati Vaitai moving to guard. His 20 career starts at left tackle ended in the Rose Bowl, when Oregon edged Wisconsin 28-27 and finished the year 12-2. Sports. Copy URL; draft grades 2021 lions : Related News. The Lions needed a linebacker in the worst way as well for the depth on their roster. ", 2021 NFL Draft: Instant grades for the Detroit Lions selecting Penei Sewell, Well, some of them. 2021 NFL Draft: Instant grades for the Detroit Lions selecting Penei Sewell originally appeared on NBC Sports Northwest. Sewell has a ton of talent and will upgrade that line in a big way. In only two seasons in Eugene, Oregon, the 6-foot-6, 325-pounder allowed just one sack in over 1,376 snaps. Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Draft Picks: Round 1: No. Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett grades the Detroit Lions‘ 2021 NFL draft class.. Best pick: Penei Sewell. The best is yet to come once he gets more experience. 153 to the Browns for 113 and 257. The roster had a few weak spots and a gaping hole at defensive end. The fact that he was there at 7, Carolina, you’ve got to believe, is a little disappointed. Here’s a look at what other media outlets are saying about Sewell’s fit with the Lions: One NFL head coach called Lions’ first-round pick Penei Sewell “the one surefire Hall of Famer in this draft class.”, I thought with another year he could have been in that Ogden, Pace, Boselli category. Obvious, this is an easy call. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson. The Lions are in a rebuild, and Sewell offers a terrific building block. Getty SideLion Report 4 days NFL Draft 2021: Detroit Lions select WR, LB with consecutive Day 3 picks SideLion Report 5 days NFL Draft 2021: Detroit Lions … Barnes generates some comparisons that are hard to ignore. Perhaps the real Mr. A look at complete grades for every pick for the Detroit Lions' 2021 NFL Draft and a final grade for the team. His approach could improve as a pass blocker. Taking him was a no-brainer for Detroit.". From Thursday to Saturday, the Lions managed to do the heavy lifting to fill out their roster with players who can come in and compete at direct spots of need, and as a result, have cashed in some quality grades for their work this weekend. That meant they made back-to-back picks: USC wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown at … tennessean.com - The Detroit Lions have a new coach, GM and quarterback in 2021. Detroit Lions' 2021 NFL Draft Grades - Flipboard. 7. ... NFL Draft grades 2021: All 32 draft … 7 – Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon A look at complete grades for every pick for the Detroit Lions' 2021 NFL Draft and a final grade for the team. The 2021 NFL Draft began Thursday night with the Detroit Lions landing a franchise left tackle. Making life easier for edge rushers is a huge goal, and McNeill’s addition will help the Lions do that in a major way even if some folks hadn’t heard of him coming into the draft. At this point on the board, the Lions did about as good as they could be expected to do at the position. ", "We shouldn’t be surprised by this pick. The Lions, in need of blue-chip talent, did the right thing and made him the pick at No. With the 113th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected linebacker Derrick Barnes of Purdue University. Now that the Lions have their offensive tackle of the future, here’s a look at the grades NFL experts have handed Detroit for their first-round selection. This is a home-run type of foundational pick for the franchise to build around now and later. Sewell was the best offensive lineman in the draft and one of three elite non-quarterbacks available. Irrelevant given where he was selected, Jefferson now sets out to try and make waves and make the team and prove his doubters wrong, whomever they may be. SideLion Report 1 day NFL Draft 2021: Detroit Lions select WR, LB with consecutive Day 3 picks SideLion Report 2 days NFL Draft 2021: Detroit Lions … The latest Lions news straight to your inbox! Suddenly, there’s some serious depth up front for Detroit. THE DAILY DRIVE: 2021 NFL Draft grades: Detroit Lions had a consensus top-10 class May 03, 2021 at 10:59 AM Detroit ... Lions depth chart projection: How the new draft picks change the picture (subscription required) Nick Baumgardner & Chris Burke – The Athletic. 3, 2021 - Detroit Lions' 2021 NFL Draft Grades Sports Illustrated2021 NFL Draft grades: Detroit Lions had a consensus top-10 class prideofdetroit.comDave Birkett grades Detroit Lions' 2021 NFL draft class: Favorite pick Detroit Free PressDetroit Lions NFL Draft Picks & Grades 2021 Pro Football NetworkView Full Coverage on Google … Here is a 2021 NFL draft pick-by-pick breakdown for the Detroit Lions: Round 1 (No. The Detroit Lions' Draft Picks of 2021: # 1 Round 1 Pick 7: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon. he picks are in! Onwuzurike is a deft mover up front and can press the pocket in plenty of unique ways. Join the Heavy on Lions newsletter here! He opted out last season, but Sewell’s 20 college starts were plenty to see his potential. On paper, this is one of the better drafts of the 2021 year in the league. May 3, 2021. The picks are in! Melifonwu has a very impressive ceiling and could end up being one of the top cornerbacks in the entire draft when all is said and done. With NFL bloodlines from his brother, Melifonwu will go about trying to make it in the league himself. Finding snaps will be tough, but Jefferson is the type of quick, tough and durable runner that will not care about who is ahead of him. Grading scale: A = Great B = Good C = Average D = Poor F = Horrible Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon (First round, 7th overall) Grade: A 6-foot-5 Here’s a look. So this pick, from a physicality standpoint, is what they want to do. On the surface, defensive tackle wasn’t a need, but then you remember how miserable Detroit’s front was at generating pressure the last handful of seasons or more. The Lions took an offensive lineman with their seventh-overall pick of the night in former Oregon Ducks offensive tackle Penei Sewell. It worked out pretty well with Bob Quinn drafting Taylor Decker, but it will be the rest of the draft where Holmes will need to distinguish himself from the previous regime. Sewell opted out of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic, but his 2019 campaign at Oregon speaks volumes. ... Detroit Lions (from Rams): Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse. The Day 3 picks were met mostly favorably by draft analysts nationally. May. Maybe that's why they didn't trade this pick. Another year at Oregon would have cemented him as a guaranteed top 3-5 pick. If there’s a question about him, it’s his ability to stand out size-wise, but he is a tackling machine, a steady producer and the kind of player who could help fill a huge hole at linebacker, a spot the Lions have not had much luck lately developing talent. This was a foundational draft for the Lions, and if that was the case, the house is looking like it is going to be built to last. 7th Overall Selection (R1-P7): Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon; 41st Overall Selection (R2-P9): 72nd Overall Selection (R3-P8): 101st Overall Selection (R3-P38): 112th Overall Selection (R4-P7): 154th Overall Selection (R5-P9): Who did the Lions draft on Day 1? The Lions checked off need after need with players that are athletes, solid players and solid people. 7 pick in 2021 NFL draft Brad Holmes found what he hopes will be a cornerstone for the Detroit Lions… The Lions wrapped up their 2021 NFL Draft class Saturday in Cleveland with three selections. He also fits Detroit’s new culture and mindset in a great if not explicit way. ", "The Lions were a good bet to take the best player available for their total rebuild under GM Brad Holmes. ", "At 19 years old, Sewell (6-foot-5, 331 pounds) was a unanimous All-American after starting 13 games at left tackle and allowing one sack, per Pro Football Focus. The Detroit Lions have finished off another NFL Draft, and the 2021 edition was one of the best the team has had in a long time start to finish. In 2019, no sacks allowed and only two hits on the quarterbacks. The Detroit Lions have been given a very high grade for their 2021 NFL Draft by Pro Football Focus. It was solid top to bottom for the Lions, who scored in a big way to start and carried that theme throughout. Detroit Lions fan Ben Brumand wears an outfit in support of his team as he awaits the first round of the 2021 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. NFL Draft grades 2021: Live picks, analysis from Rounds 1-3 Round 1 1. In 2018 as a true freshman, no penalties, but he did have an injury, a high ankle sprain where he missed six football games. Instant grade: A-plus. It wasn’t a deep class up front, but Onwuzurike was arguably the best interior prospect in the class. Obvious, this is an easy call. When I was talking to different scouts and coaches, they said simply if you could count on one guy being a Hall of Famer (from this draft class), it’d be Sewell. 2021 NFL Draft grades: Detroit Lions get near-unanimous A’s for Penei Sewell pick The national audience overwhelmingly love the Lions’ selection. The 2021 NFL Draft began Thursday night with the Detroit Lions locking down their first pick off the official Big Board. Analysis: Sewell is my favorite prospect in the Detroit Lions honorary fan and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell congratulate the Lions 7th pick of offensive tackle Penei Sewell during the 2021 NFl Draft in Cleveland. The Detroit Lions selected Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday. The Lions used the seventh-overall pick on former Oregon Duck. 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