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… including the player who landed first on the list. Did you realize 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:
S Brian Branch: 8th
RB Jahmyr Gibbs: 10th
TE Sam LaPorta: 23rd
S Kerby Joseph: 25th
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:
Try to guess the first guest of our offseason series from the NFLPA Rookie Premiere ⬇️
Hint: He began his college career at the DII level pic.twitter.com/HJNCcv09T5
— St. Brown Podcast (@StBrownPodcast) May 19, 2025