As the NFL season winds down, postseason honors and accolades begin to take center stage. For many players, these distinctions are secondary to team success, though there are always a few who openly acknowledge their importance.
Such honors carry significant weight, serving as lifetime achievements that players can look back on when their careers end. Beyond the pride of being named a Pro Bowler or All-Pro, these recognitions often come with financial benefits, such as contract incentives, increased marketability, or higher value in memorabilia, particularly in the booming trading card industry.
For the third consecutive year, the NFL Players Association has announced its All-Pro selections, voted on by the players themselves. While traditional media All-Pro teams still hold substantial prestige, being recognized by one’s peers carries a unique level of respect. Among this year’s honorees is Detroit Lions offensive tackle and former Oregon Duck, Penei Sewell, who was named the starting right tackle on the NFLPA All-Pro Team.
“Penei is a dog. Penei is OD. He does some stuff where I’m like, yo. He’s the coldest lineman I’ve ever seen,” said All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown during an episode of The St. Brown Podcast featuring Deebo Samuel. “Obviously, Trent [Williams] is one of the best to ever do it, but Penei, he’s only 23.”
At just 23 years old, Sewell’s dominance is remarkable. Despite being in the league for a relatively short time, he’s already being compared to future Hall of Famers like Trent Williams and Lane Johnson. Among his contemporaries, he’s regarded as one of the best, often mentioned alongside players such as Tristan Wirfs and Rashawn Slater. These comparisons highlight Sewell’s potential trajectory toward a Hall of Fame career.
The respect Sewell commands within the NFL is evident, but whether that recognition translates into media accolades remains uncertain. Media voters often face tough decisions when selecting All-Pro tackles, as they don’t always differentiate between right and left tackles.
This has historically put right tackles at a disadvantage, but players like Sewell are challenging that narrative and reshaping how the position is viewed.
Fortunately for Sewell, his youth and talent position him to continue earning accolades for years to come, provided he stays healthy and motivated. With potentially another decade ahead of him, Sewell has ample time to solidify his legacy and further establish himself as one of the greatest offensive linemen of his era.
