Lions' 2023 Review: Penei Sewell Is Best Right Tackle in NFL

Free agency brings challenges for Detroit's O-line.

Author:
Christian Booher
Publish date:
Feb 7, 2024 1:02 PM EST

In this story:

The Detroit Lions boasted one of the league's best offensive lines when fully healthy in 2023.

Two players, Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow, earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for their performances. In total, the unit had five reliable starters that paved the way for an elite run game.

Offensive line coach Hank Fraley's group was statistically among the best in the league, and the youth within the group points to more success on the horizon.

However, free agency brings plenty of questions to the position group. Here is where the Lions stand along the offensive line, as they enter the offseason ahead of the 2024 campaign.

Reason for hope

The Lions have the league's best right tackle in Penei Sewell, who has lived up to his billing as a top-10 pick and then some since entering the league in 2021. He was rated as the top tackle by Pro Football Focus with a 92.1 overall offensive grade.

Sewell allowed just one sack across 20 games, including the postseason, and 25 total pressures. He showcased elite athleticism for his position, routinely making big blocks in the open field.

The third-year lineman was a Pro Bowl selection and a first-team All-Pro for his efforts.

His partner at the tackle position, Taylor Decker, had another solid season protecting Jared Goff's blindside.

Elsewhere, Frank Ragnow persevered through a number of injuries to play 15 games. He has dealt with a chronic toe injury since 2021, and also dealt with injuries to his back, knee and ankle.

In particular, he missed just one game with a meniscus injury that required surgery following the team's Week 13 win over New Orleans.

The Lions' offensive line, when healthy, continued to be among the league's best groups up front.

Detroit Lions Dan Campbell speaks with general manager Brad Holmes at training camp.

Reason for worry

The continuity of the Lions' offensive line could be in for a shakeup this offseason. Both starting guards, Jonah Jackson and Graham Glasgow, are free agents. As a result, Detroit has some vital decisions to make.

These decisions are further complicated by the fact that the organization has several key players due for extensions. As a result, the team's finite cap space will be challenged.

Jackson's season was derailed by injuries, and his performance dipped from years past when he was available. Glasgow, on the other hand, outperformed expectations, and wound up being a valuable part of the offensive line.

The Lions will be forced to decide whether to keep their offensive line's interior structure intact or seek options elsewhere. Doing either comes with various risks.

Injuries forced the team to evaluate its depth in a pinch. Colby Sorsdal started three games, but earned just a 41.8 pass-blocking grade and allowed 14 pressures on 124 pass-blocking snaps.

There's also the concern of Ragnow's future. The center's toe injury is inoperable, and he admitted that he will consider his options ahead of next season. General manager Brad Holmes acknowledged the center has a decision to make.

The Lions plan to respect his process but keep communication with the second-team All-Pro selection throughout the offseason.

Biggest question

How different will the Lions' offensive line look in 2024? With questions surrounding free agency and potential retirement, the Lions could have to replace multiple key players up front.

Sewell and Decker are locked in, and Ragnow is under contract until 2026. But, the organization may be forced to seek out new blood elsewhere. Glasgow played well enough to warrant a new deal, and Jackson's overall body of work over his first four NFL seasons makes him deserving as well.

However, Jackson's asking price may be too high, and Glasgow will be entering his age-32 season.

The Lions have built their identity on their ground game, with the success of their offensive line playing a huge role in that. If new pieces enter the fold next season, it will be intriguing to see if the Lions can maintain that high level of production.

If the Lions explore the interior offensive line in the NFL Draft, some prospects to watch include Kansas State's Cooper Beebe, Arkansas' Beaux Limmer and Connecticut's Christian Haynes.

Free agents