The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sewell makes sense as Falcons’ 1st pick
Former Oregon offensive tackle can have an immediate impact on team and play 65 to 70 plays a game.
With only a few more weeks before the NFL draft begins April 29, it’s smoke-screen season. Don’t fall for the smoke screens. Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot, in his introductory news conference, told us what the was going to do. He’s going to draft the best player available just like Ozzie Newsome used to do in Baltimore and Ron Wolf used to do in Green Bay.
He’s not taking a developmental quarterback with the fourth overall pick when his 4-12 team needs to fix the offensive line, the secondary, find a pass rush, get a running back and a backup quarterback or two.
Given all of the personnel issues, trading back would make some sense with Denver or New England, but both of those teams have realized that they can sit and wait for their quarterbacks. Denver can take North Dakota State’s Trey Lance at ninth overall, and Alabama’s Mac Jones will be there at 15 for the Patriots.
So with the fourth overall pick, the Falcons will select Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell. They can figure out where to play him later. He can have an immediate impact and play 65 to 70 plays a game. Drafting Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, who only impact only 10 to 15 plays again, would not help the team very much.
Also, the Falcons want to draft a player who they’ll have at least for the next six seasons (five plus a potential franchise-tag season) or they would hope he gets to his second contract and the team is set at a key spot for 10 years.
That player is Sewell because San Francisco didn’t trade all those picks to trade up to three to get a developmental quarterback or a quarterback they could have stayed at 12 to take. Look for Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields to be headed to San Francisco.
We got a chance to chat with Sewell on his virtual media call Monday.
“Trent Williams is my favorite player, right,” Sewell said. “The way his athleticism and power goes hand in hand, it’s very interesting and exciting to watch.”
Sewell wouldn’t mind reuniting with former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert in Los Angeles, but the Chargers pick 13th overall. If the Falcons don’t select Sewell, he’ll go with the next pick, to the Bengals. There will be no reunion with Herbert.
“I’ve been talking to the Chargers,” Sewell said. “Conversations have been made. To block for Herbert again, I think it’s another vision and dream. It would be fun. I blocked for Herbert throughout this whole time I’ve been here at Oregon, to have that chance again, to share that same field as him again would be a dream come true.”
Sewell and Herbert are represented by the same firm, Athlete’s First.
“Yeah, I’ve talked with Falcons,” Sewell said. “Yeah, it would be honor to go wherever. But definitely, if I went that early, it would eliminate a lot of stress and uncertainty in my mind. Wherever I go, it will be fun.”
Sewell is only 20, but was the best offensive lineman in college football in 2019. He opted out of the 2020 season. He believes he’s mature enough to make the jump to the NFL.
“One word, has been my mentality,” Sewell said when asked to discuss his growth from his high school days. “Going from high school to college, from Utah to Oregon, I just kind of flipped the switch with a whole new mentality of locking in, really taking that next step to be a better player and also be a better person off the field.
“Just kind of again, being mature about it. As young as I am . ... I guess I’ve grown up a little quicker than people my age. My mentality has switched to let me become a man.”
Sewell wasn’t too excited about possibly starting his career at guard. The Falcons have an opening at left guard.
“I can prove that I’m a tackle in this league,” Sewell said.
For those who believe that Sewell is not the top tackle in the draft, he had a few words.
“Just go put on the tape,” Sewell said. “Everybody just go ahead and watch what I can do. Nobody can do what I do in this draft in the offensive tackle rooms. I bring something totally different to the table. People know that, but will say whatever they have to say. All I have to say is put on the tape and watch me work.”
Sewell is ready to return to the field.
“The next time I have the opportunity to step in between those lines, I’m going to make the most of it,” Sewell said. “I’m coming with everything that I have, and I’m not coming up short.”
Clear some space in the locker room for Penei Sewell.