Chicago Bears select Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell in fifth round of NFL Draft
Former Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 148th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft on Friday.
With his selection, the former Ducks’ star becomes the program’s second player selected in this year’s draft. On Thursday, the New England Patriots selected cornerback Christian Gonzalez with the 17th overall pick.
With Sewell’s selection, he becomes the first Oregon inside linebacker to be drafted since the Minnesota Vikings took Troy Dye in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. Sewell is also the first member of the Ducks’ vaunted 2020 singing class to be selected in the NFL Draft.
In 12 games this season, Sewell racked up 56 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. He also grabbed one interception and deflected three passes.
A former 5-star recruit, Sewell was the No. 20 overall player and the No. 4 linebacker in the class of 2020, according to the On3 Consensus. According to 247 Sports, he is the fifth-highest-rated recruit to ever sign with Oregon.
During three seasons with the Ducks, Sewell racked up numerous year-end accolades.
He was the Pac-12 freshman of the year in 2020 and a first-team all-conference selection in 2021 as a true sophomore. This season, Sewell was dinged up at the start of the year but settled in as the season went on and garnered second-team all-conference honors.
In three seasons with the Ducks, Sewell played 33 games and racked up 218 total tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles.
Prior to the start of the 2022 season, Sewell was tabbed by many draft analysts as the top inside linebacker in this year’s class and a potential first-round pick. But after his shaky start to the season, his stock began to drop.
Many who follow the Oregon program closely believed Sewell might return to Eugene for his fourth college season.
During the NFL Combine in March, Sewell explained the process behind his decision to enter the draft to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Sewell admitted he dealt with lingering injuries throughout the 2022 season and shouldered the blame for the Ducks’ underwhelming defensive showing last year.
“I was trying to do too much,” Sewell said. “I felt like I was the only one out there, but in reality, I had teammates with me and I was putting too much on my shoulders.”
Sewell is the younger brother of former Oregon All-American offensive lineman Penei Sewell, who was selected seventh overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Their brother, Nephi Sewell, was a standout linebacker at Utah and signed as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints last spring.
