Pride of Detroit
PFF dropped the top 25 players under 25 years old, and the Detroit Lions dominate the list.
Every now and then, I see nonsense about the Detroit Lions’ Super Bowl window closing. And while it’s true that general manager Brad Holmes’ job will get more difficult with less draft capital and more costly contracts to balance, it bears repeating just how good and young the core of the Lions’ personnel is.
Thankfully, PFF did this masterfully by listing their top 25 players under 25 years old. The list features five total Lions players, including three in the top 10... and the player who landed first on the list. Did you realized that Penei Sewell—entering his fifth NFL season—is still just 24 years old? Well, he is.
“Sewell led this list last year, and after another dominant season as one of the three highest-graded players at his position, his spot at the top remains solidified,” PFF’s Jonathan Marcri wrote. “Sewell’s run-blocking ability is his best asset, as he owns a 95.2 PFF run-blocking grade for his career — the second-best mark among all offensive linemen since entering the league in 2021.”
Here’s where other Lions landed on the list:
If the Lions are able to retain these players contractually, each of these players likely have at least 5-7 years of high-level play ahead of them.
Additionally, note that this list does not include Aidan Hutchinson, who is currently 24 years old, but turns 25 in August—disqualifying him from this list. It also doesn’t include the likes of Jameson Williams (24), Alim McNeill (25), Amon-Ra St. Brown (25), or any of the Lions’ young players who figure to be part of the Lions’ future core, including Terrion Arnold (22), Tyleik Williams (22), Jack Campbell (24), Derrick Barnes (25), or Tate Ratledge (24).
Onto the rest of today’s Notes:
Ford Field got a nice little update recently:
Tough read on former Lions offensive lineman Jason Fox, whose infant child has a brain tumor. The good news is a life-changing, random run-in with an old friend led to treatment that has the Fox family optimistic about the future.
Looks like we’re getting a new episode of the St. Brown Brothers podcast this week with rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa:
This week, our own Al Karsten made a case for re-signing Alex Anzalone. Over at Detroit Football Network, Justin Rogers outlined what an extension for the veteran linebacker would look like.
Kerby Joseph did some media rounds last week. Here he is on the Rich Eisen show, and playing some video games against Cam Jordan:
Is re-grading NFL Draft season, and CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco gave the Lions’ 2022 draft class a retroactive A+ grade—a significant upgrade from his initial grade.
