The Detroit Lions' offensive line will look different in 2026. Taylor Decker's departure was unfortunate and forced the team to think outside the box, but fortunately, they had one of the best guys for the job.
The Lions will move superstar OT Penei Sewell from right to left tackle. "Losing" the best right tackle in the world will require some adjustments, but he's got the speed, athleticism, and footwork to handle blindside protection duties.
That's why, even though there might still be some doubts about the other tackle spot, head coach Dan Campbell couldn't be more confident in his guys. When asked about the Lions' new-look line, the head coach shut down all concerns.
Dan Campbell isn't worried about the Detroit Lions' offensive line
"Good. He's over there, he's been really since -- he's been working it even being back home before we started offseason, once I gave him the word," Campbell said of Sewell.
"So, it'll be like riding a bike for him. Will it be things he'll have to learn? Yeah, of course there will be. But I mean, he has played left. That's muscle memory. He played a lot of left in college and for us in '21, those first few games. And he still took reps at left even over the last five years, so that'll be seamless. That'll be seamless. Sewell can do it all."
Sewell has spent most of his career on the right side, but he does have some experience on the other side of the line. He started eight games there as a rookie when Taylor Decker was injured, and modern-day tackles must be able to handle elite pass-rushers on both sides of the line anyway.
If Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby move all around the line of scrimmage, the distinction between left and right tackles has to be blurrier nowadays.
The Lions might pair Sewell with the uber-athletic Blake Miller right out of the gate. The rookie out of Clemson was an intriguing first-round pick to quell Decker's departure, and he should at least be given an opportunity to beat the recently signed Larry Borom for the starting spot.
Then, the Lions would turn to the uber-talented Tate Ratledge, the underrated Christian Mahogany, and free-agent addition Cade Mays to handle things in the interior of the offensive line. That should be more than enough to open up running lanes for Jahmyr Gibbs and Isiah Pacheco and keep Jared Goff out of harm's way.
This team has all the resources they need to field one of the most explosive offenses in the game next season. Of course, Sewell may need some time to adjust, but how bad can he be? Maybe he'll go from being the No. 1 right tackle to a top-10 left tackle, and that's a great problem to have.
Granted, dominating in the trenches is crucial, so the fans have every right to be skeptical. Still, if someone can be a brick wall and move a grown man against their will from point A to point B, that's most definitely Penei Sewell, regardless of where he stands.
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