Allen Park — Over four years ago, the Dan Campbell-Brad Holmes regime made its first big decision.

But really, the Detroit Lions had to let the Cincinnati Bengals make a decision first.

Fresh off a disastrous rookie season for quarterback Joe Burrow, Cincinnati was looking to get Burrow some help. The only question was whether that would come in the form of an offensive lineman to protect him or a new receiver to throw to.

The Bengals were picking fifth in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Lions were drafting seventh, and there was one world-class offensive tackle (Penei Sewell) and two elite receivers (Ja’Marr Chase and Jaylen Waddle) on the board when Cincinnati’s pick arrived. Detroit desperately needed receiver help, too, and was a candidate to take Chase if he fell.

Cincinnati went receiver, drafting Chase; Waddle went to the Dolphins at No. 6; Sewell fell in the Lions’ laps.

And all these years later, it’s hard to imagine it happening any other way.

“I think it put the wheels in motion for what we have become and to the point where we are at,” Campbell said of drafting Sewell. “That’s how important I think it is. Because really, everything that we’re about starts with the bigs. And then it permeates everywhere else. So, being able to get that player has been huge for us, man.”

In four seasons and some change, Sewell has established himself as one of the best — if not the best — linemen in the league. He’s on a Hall-of-Fame trajectory, having already collected three Pro Bowls and two First-Team All-Pro nods while showing no signs of slowing down.

Beyond his play on the field, he’s also been a culture-setter for a regime that is off to its best start in the Super Bowl era. The Lions like to run the ball down opposing teams’ throats — Sewell certainly helps with that. The Lions want to be defined by toughness and hard work — nobody around does that better than Sewell.

It took exactly one game for the Lions to find out what he was made of. After practicing all training camp at right tackle during his rookie season, an injury to Taylor Decker forced Sewell to start his first NFL game at left tackle against a Nick Bosa-led pass rush of the San Francisco 49ers.

“He played a hell of game,” Campbell recalled. “And it’s like, ‘Wow, this is your first game against a hell of a player. And you hadn’t taken any left tackle snaps, you’ve been taking right tackle in the NFL the whole time.’ So, that’s when it was like OK, I think he’s going to be just fine. Now, he had growing pains like every other rookie, but that’s when it was like OK, if there were any questions as to what it is, how long, whatever, I think they’ve for the most part been answered.”

Of course, selecting Chase has also paid dividends for Cincinnati. Chase has been to four Pro Bowls and received First-Team All-Pro honors in 2024 while finishing eighth in MVP voting and third in Offensive Player of the Year voting. He caught 127 passes for 1,708 yards with 17 touchdowns last season to win the receiving triple crown for just the fifth time since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

The Bengals even reached the Super Bowl in Chase’s first NFL season, when he won Rookie of the Year after hauling in 81 passes for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns. However, they haven’t addressed their offensive line struggles, which have directly led to Burrow missing significant time due to injury over the last few years.

The Lions? They ended up snagging wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who now has more All-Pros (two) than Chase, in the fourth round. And with Sewell leading the way, the Lions are set to be Super Bowl contenders for years to come.

“He is a pillar, he is one of our pillars from day one,” Campbell said. “And he’s a guy that sets the tone, he’s a phenomenal athlete, his work ethic, everything we’ve talked about up to this point, man. And so we are blessed and fortunate to have him.”

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi