Penei Sewell Reflects on Bengals Passing on Him in NFL Draft

When the Cincinnati Bengals went on the clock with the No. 5 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Penei Sewell thought he knew what was about to happen.

“You just have that feeling when something’s about to happen or you’re about to get a call of some sort, so you just have that anticipation,” Sewell told the

Detroit Free Press. “But, yeah, it never came.”

Instead of drafting Sewell, Cincinnati took wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, reuniting him with his LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. Chase has since blossomed into one of the league’s most dominant pass-catchers, while the Lions’ “consolation prize” at No. 7 has turned into one of the best offensive tackles in football.

And for Sewell, the way things played out couldn’t have been better.

“This is where I was meant to be from draft day on,” Sewell said.

The Lions travel to Cincinnati this Sunday, marking Sewell’s first game at Paycor Stadium since that fateful draft night. While some might expect him to carry a little extra edge against the team that passed on him, Sewell brushed off the idea.

“It’d be very different,” he said when asked about a world where he was drafted by the Bengals. “That’s all I got to say.”

And when pressed about whether this matchup means more because of the draft connection, he made it clear he’s not hung up on what could have been.

“I thought I was going to Cincy,” Sewell admitted. “There was a lot of talk between my agents and stuff like that. There was the possibility of going there, but here I am.”

Lions’ Cornerstone

“Here” has turned out to be exactly the right place. Sewell has become the anchor of Detroit’s offensive line, a two-time Pro Bowler, and one of the most important pieces of the Lions’ rise into Super Bowl contention under Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes.

So while Bengals fans may be thrilled with Chase, Lions fans know they ended up with the perfect fit, and Sewell knows it too.

“This is where I was meant to be,” he repeated. And on Sunday in Cincinnati, he’ll get a chance to remind everyone why.

The Broncos’ interest in a Titans TE would be a clear admission of defeat regarding their free agent

Would the Broncos already throw in the towel on this move?

The NFL trade deadline is already just one month away, believe it or not, and we haven't seen the Denver Broncos be overly aggressive in adding anyone for a couple of years. Could that change in 2025?

A recent article published by our friends at NFL Spin Zone listed nine potential trade candidates ahead of the 2025 deadline, and one player was named as a possible fit for the Denver Broncos. The name that was dropped may be a little surprising.

The Broncos were listed as a potential landing spot for Tennessee Titans Chig Okonkwo, a free agent after the 2025 season who could potentially be available if the price is right. The Titans have a budding stud in rookie Gunnar Helm out of Texas, and as a result, could make Okonkwo available to start adding future NFL Draft capital.

Broncos listed as landing spot for Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo

Here was the explanation given by Spin Zone (and Predominantly Orange's own Lou Scataglia) regarding the possibility of Okonkwo being on the trade block:

"A veteran tight end and solid receiving options, Chig Okonkwo saw the Tennessee Titans draft Gunnar Helm in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Okonkwo has been here for a little while, so the current regime might not have much of a connection here, and I would not be shocked if the Titans were the first team to wave the white flag and begin trading players in hopes of building for the future."

- NFL Spin Zone

The Titans have already played the Broncos this year, so there might be a chance we could see those two teams do a deal if the Titans become sellers either way. But the idea of Okonkwo possibly going to the Broncos brings up a potentially massive issue, which is the presence of tight end Evan Engram.

Adding a player like Okonkwo would be a clear admission of defeat on the Engram signing, which was the most substantial move the Broncos made on the offensive side of the ball in the entire 2025 offseason. Engram has gotten off to a very slow start with the Broncos in his first month with the team, missing their Week 3 loss against the Chargers and only catching eight passes for 62 yards in the other three games.

Although there's nothing wrong with having depth at a position, the Broncos probably woulldn't make such a substantial move for a tight end just to have a guy sitting around for the duration of the season. A move like this would likely only happen if Engram is forced to miss significant time for whatever reason.

There are a few more likely trade candidates from the Titans' roster, including former Broncos like Lloyd Cushenbarry and Cody Barton, that would make sense.

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