There aren’t too many pundits willing to question what offensive tackle Penei Sewell might provide for the Detroit Lions this upcoming season. That’s what happens when a player earns three first-team All-Pro nominations before turning 26.
But Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuinness was willing to express concern over Sewell entering this fall.
On Thursday, McGuinness called the offensive line the “biggest concern” for the Lions going into 2026. Sewell didn’t escape criticism, as McGuinness included the four-time Pro Bowler among his list of concerns with the 2026 Detroit offensive line.
“The Lions finished the 2025 season with PFF’s 12th-ranked offensive line, but there are question marks or inexperience at every position entering 2026,” wrote McGuinness. “Sewell is coming off a career-best 95.1 PFF grade, though his elite production has historically been driven more by his run blocking than his pass protection.
“While he has never earned a PFF pass-blocking grade below 69.4 and is coming off a career high in that facet as well, his transition to left tackle will be worth monitoring.”
The Lions selected Sewell at No. 7 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He started as a rookie and then became a Pro Bowler during his second season.
By 2023, he was a first-team All-Pro right tackle. Sewell primarily played left tackle in college.
Lions Moved Penei Sewell to Left Tackle for 2026
GettyDetroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell received some doubt that he will continue his elite play from Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuinness this week.
McGuinness is right — just because Sewell has dominated the past few years doesn’t mean that will continue with his position change. Nothing is ever guaranteed in the NFL.
But Sewell is arguably the best tackle in the league. It made a lot of sense for the Lions to move him to left tackle.
It’s also not like he isn’t familiar with playing on the blindside. He did that in college at Oregon, where he became one of the top prospects in the 2021 draft class.
Sewell is likely to be fine at left tackle. The questions the Lions face along the offensive line are at the other positions. All four of them, arguably, will have concerns going into the regular season.
Will Lions Offensive Line Dominant Again in 2026?
GettyDetroit Lions flipped All-Pro Penei Sewell to left tackle this offseason.
After questioning whether Sewell would remain elite at left tackle, McGuinness explained the concerns he has at the other offensive line positions for Detroit.
“Mays projects as a solid option at center but has played more than 500 snaps just once in his career,” wrote McGuinness. “At left guard, Christian Mahogany earned a 40.7 PFF pass-blocking grade last season.
“Tate Ratledge impressed as a rookie, posting a 70.3 PFF grade at right guard, but he will line up next to rookie Blake Miller in 2026 after spending last season alongside Sewell.”
To McGuinness’s point, center Cade Mays is already injured. Mays is going to be sidelined 8-10 weeks because of a wrist fracture.
The possibility of him playing more than 500 snaps this season is definitely in jeopardy.
The rest of the line has questions because of inexperience. Based on pundits at training camp, the two guards are in competitions to hold onto those starting jobs.
Projected starting right tackle Blake Miller is a first-round pick. But as previously mentioned, nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. Just because he’s a high-profiled prospect doesn’t mean Miller will be a star immediately.
When the Lions went 15-2 in 2024, they featured one of the best offensive lines in the league. The unit took a step back last season, which helped lead to the team missing the playoffs.
The Lions did a lot of address the unit this offseason. But the team still has to prove all those pieces can assemble together to create a strong offensive front this fall.
Lions’ Penei Sewell Questioned Before Pivotal NFL Season