After their best season since Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes came to town, the Detroit Lions continue to gain recognition—this time from PFF.
PFF released their 2023 End of Season Awards, and Penei Sewell was recognized as the NFL’s best offensive lineman, as well as the best run blocking offensive lineman in the league.
“I think he takes a lot of pride in being out there every snap,” Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said of Sewell. “Both during the game, obviously, but also in practice. He’s the same way. He doesn’t want to miss reps in practice either. So, it’s just how he’s built mentally. He knows he’s such a key cog for us offensively. He doesn’t want to let anybody down in that room. So, no, he’s been phenomenal for us just with his availability throughout the last two years.”
Frank Ragnow was an honorable mention for both of Sewell’s awards, and the Lions offensive line as a whole was an honorable mention for offensive line of the year, landing second on the list.
PFF also released its All-Pro team, and both Sewell and Ragnow earned recognition, As good as the Lions’ offensive line has been this season, they are certainly deserving. For my money, Ragnow has been the best center in football, while Sewell is in the same stratosphere as elite veteran offensive tackles San Francisco 49ers’ Trent Williams and Philadelphia Eagles’ Lane Johnson.
Lions’ wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was listed on PFF’s All-Pro second team, and maybe this is my bias showing, but he is another that should be on everyone’s first team. I mean, 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns should be enough, right?
“Well, I’m glad (St. Brown was not voted to the Pro Bowl), because you know, he needs something to motivate him,” Campbell said sarcastically. “Look, Saint—he’s going to find that and that’s what you’ve got to love about it. That’s why he’s the ultimate competitor because he can look at something and say, ‘You know what? Alright, well if you don’t think it’s good enough, watch this.’ So, yeah, I mean there’s a reason why he’s who he is and it’s because he’s wired that way. There’s nothing fake about that. That’s exactly how he thinks. Watch him in practice. He works like that every day. He works like he wants to be the best and he believes he can be the best.”
