Blake Miller is Everything This Franchise Has Been Looking For
The Lions used the seventeenth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to select Clemson right tackle Blake Miller, and if you’ve been paying attention, this shouldn’t come as a shock. This is the final piece of their offensive line rebuild, and it might just be the best one yet.
Miller should immediately compete with Larry Borom for the starting right tackle job. The early word? He’s already the favorite to win it.
Why Miller Makes Perfect Sense in Allen Park
The Lions have been rebuilding their offensive line with youth and physicality, and Miller checks every damn box. At 6-foot-7 with 34.25-inch arms, 32 bench press reps, and a ridiculous 9.9 RAS score, he was considered the most NFL-ready tackle in this entire draft class.
But here’s what really matters for Detroit. Miller uses his wrestling background to control defenders, leveraging his body to anchor against pass rushers and drive-block in the run game. The mental makeup? That’s where he becomes perfect for this franchise.
In four years at Clemson, Miller missed exactly one practice due to a broken wrist. He was back the next day in a cast. One practice in four years. Let that sink in.
A former Clemson captain, Miller is considered a film junkie who translates everything he learns to on-field production. His work ethic is legendary, and he’s routinely credited with elite commitment to his teammates.
An NFL scout put it perfectly: “The thought of letting down his coaches and teammates kills him.”
Brad Holmes Knows What He Got
Lions GM Brad Holmes didn’t mince words after the pick. Miller “checks a lot of boxes” as a high floor player who’s “big, tough, smart” and a “finisher” with “unbelievable football character.”
The kicker? When you think about Blake Miller, you sleep easy.
Miller himself explained his approach: “You get to go out there and you get to take someone’s will every play. You get to go put someone into the ground. You want to see them looking for the sideline at the end of the game.”
That’s Detroit Lions football right there.
How the Roster Shakes Out
With 54 starts at right tackle, Miller looks like a plug-and-play starter. Holmes called him a “starting tackle already,” but he won’t be handed anything. The competition with Borom will be real, though don’t be surprised if Miller takes control early.
Miller’s arrival means Penei Sewell moves back to left tackle, where he played in college and has NFL experience. The projected starting line becomes Sewell at left tackle, Christian Mahogany at left guard, Cade Mays at center, Tate Ratledge at right guard, and Miller at right tackle.
Borom slides into the swing tackle role with Giovanni Manu fighting to stick as the fourth tackle. Devin Cochran rounds out the group, though other interior prospects like Miles Frazier and Colby Sorsdal have also taken outside snaps.
With fifteen offensive linemen under contract, the Lions aren’t pressed to add more bodies, though they might still grab some interior help later in the draft or through undrafted free agents.
This feels different. This feels like the Lions finally found their guy at a position that has burned them before. Miller missed one practice in four years and came back the next day in a cast. Is this the kind of grit that finally gets this franchise over the hump, or are we just setting ourselves up for more heartbreak? Drop your take below.
