Well, this is certainly something you don't see very often. It's pretty widely agreed upon that Detroit Lions right tackle Penei Sewell is one of the best football players in the NFL. Not just one of the best offensive linemen, but one of the best overall players.
In fact, we here at A to Z Sports recently did an NFC North roundtable where we each named the best player in the division, and all but one of us picked Sewell. We're also not the only ones picking Sewell for things. Players in the league regularly include him in the top 100 players. He's been a Pro Bowler the last three seasons and a first-team All-Pro the last two years.
Over the weekend, ESPN got together with NFL executives, coaches, and scouts to rank the top 10 tackles in the league, and was voted second behind Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs. It certainly seems like there's a consensus here. That is, except for former Chiefs offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz. He believes Sewell's accolades come from his PR team and not his play.
Schwartz is the brother of former Lions guard Geoff Schwartz. Mitchell played from 2012 to 2020 with the Browns and the Chiefs.
I don't know where Schwartz gets the idea that Sewell is just a good run blocker. He has allowed just one sack in each of the last two seasons, and the Lions have had the best passing attack in the league the last two years. Sure, PFF says his pass block grade is above average, but the eye test and anyone with eyes in Detroit will tell you that it's extremely rare that a pass play is ruined by Sewell in any kind of way.
If he wanted to place Lane Johnson ahead of Sewell, that's fine. Making it out to seem like he's a bum just so he could say he's the second-best right tackle is a bit much, though.
