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Mike Clay is not backing down from his controversial evaluation of Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell. In fact, the ESPN analyst doubled down by challenging angry Lions fans to provide something more substantial than complaints on social media.
Clay sparked a heated debate after ranking Sewell as the NFL’s 10th-best offensive tackle entering the 2026 season. That placement immediately drew criticism from Detroit supporters, especially after a separate ESPN survey of more than 70 league executives, coaches, and scouts ranked Sewell as the best offensive tackle in football.
Clay’s offensive line ratings were not presented strictly as his personal opinion. He explained that the rankings were compiled using several factors, including pass block and run block win rates, Pro Football Focus grades, draft capital and playing time.
“Half of the analysis seems to agree with PBWR, which is interesting,” Clay wrote while responding to critics. “A friendly reminder that the ratings on the chart are not my opinion. They’re a compilation of pass and rush win rates, PFF grade, draft capital, and playing time.”
Clay also invited those who disagreed to suggest better objective measurements for evaluating offensive linemen.
The numbers used in Clay’s model were not particularly kind to Sewell following the 2025 season. Sewell posted an 89.6 percent pass block win rate, the lowest mark of his career and a figure that reportedly placed him 17th among offensive linemen in Clay’s evaluation.
The conversation became more contentious when Lions fans continued challenging Sewell’s placement.
Clay argued that many of those criticizing the ranking had not studied enough offensive linemen around the league to make a meaningful comparison. He also suggested that fans were reacting emotionally to a statistic rather than offering evidence that disproved the model.
“First of all, the metrics used are on the chart,” Clay wrote. “Second, I know no one commenting has watched tape of the other linemen, nor done near the work our team has studying these guys.”
Clay then issued a direct challenge to Sewell’s defenders.
“You’re mad about a stat. Instead of whining, prove evidence of why it’s wrong and I’ll adjust. Have a nice day.”
Calling the criticism “whining” predictably did little to calm the situation. Lions fans responded by pointing to Sewell’s individual accolades, his dominance as a run blocker and the respect he continues to receive from coaches, scouts and executives across the NFL.
The timing of Clay’s argument made the debate even more interesting.
ESPN’s annual survey of NFL decision makers placed Sewell first among all offensive tackles. The Lions star moved up from No. 2 in the previous year’s rankings, finishing ahead of Trent Williams, Tristan Wirfs, Jordan Mailata and Laremy Tunsil.
One veteran defensive coach described Sewell as the most complete offensive tackle in the league, praising his physicality, power and intelligence. An NFC executive highlighted the attitude and energy Sewell brings to Detroit’s offensive line.
That creates an unusual contrast. One ESPN analytical model placed Sewell 10th, while NFL personnel responsible for evaluating players and constructing rosters collectively selected him as the league’s best tackle.
Both evaluations can exist without either being entirely meaningless. Clay’s model highlights measurable areas in which Sewell declined during 2025. The league survey accounts for film study, physical ability, scheme responsibilities, leadership, consistency and the challenges of comparing players across different offenses.
Still, ranking Sewell 10th is difficult to reconcile with the way he is regarded throughout the NFL.
Sewell has not attempted to hide from his uneven 2025 performance.
The three time All Pro acknowledged during the offseason that his play did not meet his personal standard. His pass protection numbers declined, and injuries contributed to a season that lacked some of the weekly dominance Lions fans had become accustomed to seeing.
That self assessment is important. Sewell can be considered the NFL’s best offensive tackle while also recognizing that he was not at his best last season.
Elite players are often judged against their own standard. A disappointing season for Sewell can still be better than the best season produced by many starting tackles across the league.
The discussion surrounding Sewell will only intensify as he prepares to move from right tackle to left tackle.
The change will place him on Jared Goff’s blind side and create more frequent matchups against some of the NFL’s most dangerous edge rushers. It will also give Sewell an opportunity to answer every question about his pass protection following his statistical decline in 2025.
At 25 years old, Sewell remains one of the central figures in Detroit’s championship pursuit. He has already earned three consecutive first team All Pro selections and established himself as the emotional and physical leader of the Lions’ offensive line.
Clay is entitled to defend the formula behind his rankings, and the numbers he cited should not simply be ignored. His tone toward Lions fans, however, became the bigger story once he dismissed their arguments as whining and questioned whether they had watched enough film to offer an informed opinion.
The debate will not be settled on social media. Sewell will get his chance to settle it on the field.
Continue reading...
Clay sparked a heated debate after ranking Sewell as the NFL’s 10th-best offensive tackle entering the 2026 season. That placement immediately drew criticism from Detroit supporters, especially after a separate ESPN survey of more than 70 league executives, coaches, and scouts ranked Sewell as the best offensive tackle in football.
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Mike Clay Defends Penei Sewell Ranking
Clay’s offensive line ratings were not presented strictly as his personal opinion. He explained that the rankings were compiled using several factors, including pass block and run block win rates, Pro Football Focus grades, draft capital and playing time.
“Half of the analysis seems to agree with PBWR, which is interesting,” Clay wrote while responding to critics. “A friendly reminder that the ratings on the chart are not my opinion. They’re a compilation of pass and rush win rates, PFF grade, draft capital, and playing time.”
Clay also invited those who disagreed to suggest better objective measurements for evaluating offensive linemen.
The numbers used in Clay’s model were not particularly kind to Sewell following the 2025 season. Sewell posted an 89.6 percent pass block win rate, the lowest mark of his career and a figure that reportedly placed him 17th among offensive linemen in Clay’s evaluation.
Clay Takes Aim at Lions Fans
The conversation became more contentious when Lions fans continued challenging Sewell’s placement.
Clay argued that many of those criticizing the ranking had not studied enough offensive linemen around the league to make a meaningful comparison. He also suggested that fans were reacting emotionally to a statistic rather than offering evidence that disproved the model.
“First of all, the metrics used are on the chart,” Clay wrote. “Second, I know no one commenting has watched tape of the other linemen, nor done near the work our team has studying these guys.”
Clay then issued a direct challenge to Sewell’s defenders.
“You’re mad about a stat. Instead of whining, prove evidence of why it’s wrong and I’ll adjust. Have a nice day.”
Calling the criticism “whining” predictably did little to calm the situation. Lions fans responded by pointing to Sewell’s individual accolades, his dominance as a run blocker and the respect he continues to receive from coaches, scouts and executives across the NFL.
Two ESPN Rankings Tell Very Different Stories
The timing of Clay’s argument made the debate even more interesting.
ESPN’s annual survey of NFL decision makers placed Sewell first among all offensive tackles. The Lions star moved up from No. 2 in the previous year’s rankings, finishing ahead of Trent Williams, Tristan Wirfs, Jordan Mailata and Laremy Tunsil.
One veteran defensive coach described Sewell as the most complete offensive tackle in the league, praising his physicality, power and intelligence. An NFC executive highlighted the attitude and energy Sewell brings to Detroit’s offensive line.
That creates an unusual contrast. One ESPN analytical model placed Sewell 10th, while NFL personnel responsible for evaluating players and constructing rosters collectively selected him as the league’s best tackle.
Both evaluations can exist without either being entirely meaningless. Clay’s model highlights measurable areas in which Sewell declined during 2025. The league survey accounts for film study, physical ability, scheme responsibilities, leadership, consistency and the challenges of comparing players across different offenses.
Still, ranking Sewell 10th is difficult to reconcile with the way he is regarded throughout the NFL.
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Penei Sewell Admitted He Had a Down Year
Sewell has not attempted to hide from his uneven 2025 performance.
The three time All Pro acknowledged during the offseason that his play did not meet his personal standard. His pass protection numbers declined, and injuries contributed to a season that lacked some of the weekly dominance Lions fans had become accustomed to seeing.
That self assessment is important. Sewell can be considered the NFL’s best offensive tackle while also recognizing that he was not at his best last season.
Elite players are often judged against their own standard. A disappointing season for Sewell can still be better than the best season produced by many starting tackles across the league.
Sewell Faces a New Challenge in 2026
The discussion surrounding Sewell will only intensify as he prepares to move from right tackle to left tackle.
The change will place him on Jared Goff’s blind side and create more frequent matchups against some of the NFL’s most dangerous edge rushers. It will also give Sewell an opportunity to answer every question about his pass protection following his statistical decline in 2025.
At 25 years old, Sewell remains one of the central figures in Detroit’s championship pursuit. He has already earned three consecutive first team All Pro selections and established himself as the emotional and physical leader of the Lions’ offensive line.
Clay is entitled to defend the formula behind his rankings, and the numbers he cited should not simply be ignored. His tone toward Lions fans, however, became the bigger story once he dismissed their arguments as whining and questioned whether they had watched enough film to offer an informed opinion.
The debate will not be settled on social media. Sewell will get his chance to settle it on the field.
Continue reading...
