There's a different feeling this offseason for the Detroit Lions. Seemingly every position of the offense is now occupied with significant talent, especially on the offensive line. The 2023 Lions offensive line finished as arguably the best in the league; in 2024, they’re going to be even better. This sense of improvement is a clear reflection of the team's dedication to building upon their strengths from the previous season.
The star of this group is Penei Sewell, who just earned himself a four-year, $112 million extension to stay in Detroit. Sewell, the seventh overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, is where the story starts for this new era of Lions football.
Sewell is one of the most impressive linemen I've ever watched coming out of Oregon. He’s quickly become one of the most feared tackles in the league. Sewell and the Lions organization have grown and developed side-by-side, making strides in success and consistency every year he’s been in the league.
Before Sewell, there were Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, and Frank Ragnow. These three have started a combined 298 games for the Lions, weathering some tough times throughout the years. It’s refreshing to see these three finally able to experience the success they deserve. The trio all seem to be playing inspired football at the right time for this Lions organization.
To really solidify this starting five and pair Sewell with an elite guard, the Lions made a big move in free agency to secure guard Kevin Zeitler. Now joining his fifth team in 12 seasons, Zeitler is the icing on the cake for the league's best offensive line. He’s proven to be productive in any system, and with this Lions offense, I predict he’ll play the best football of his career. Between these five players, there are a combined 529 starts. That experience, paired with some of the best playmakers in football, is a near-perfect reflection of how to construct an offense.
Despite an already penciled-in starting line, the Lions made some noise during the draft to add long-term, high-value rookies. The first of those was Giovanni Manu, the most exciting selection in the entire draft. Manu’s name picked up a lot of speed toward the end of the pre-draft process. Hailing from British Columbia, the 6-foot-7, 350-pound tackle tested as one of the best pound-for-pound athletes in the whole draft. There’s a good chance Manu could fill Taylor Decker's shoes one day, but for now, developing under the coaching of offensive line coach Hank Fraley is what’ll be best for Manu's career.
Boston College product Christian Mahogany also joins this rookie class as a sixth-round selection. Mahogany was the best available lineman for a good portion of day three. Considering where the Lions selected Mahogany, this is great value for a potential starter down the road and even better value as a backup C/G.
Other than Manu and Mahogany, I’d expect Colby Sorsdal to be the do-it-all sixth-man lineman for the Lions, capable of filling almost every spot along the line. The importance of a player like Sorsdal is massive, especially throughout a 17-game season.
The Lions find themselves the odds-on favorite to win the NFC North. With the NFL’s best offensive line and consequently one of the league's best offenses, this Lions team has an opportunity to be the best in organizational history. What Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have done from a roster-construction standpoint should be studied by the entire league.
