After Detroit selected Blake Miller at No. 17 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, NFL.com’s Chad Reuter gave the Lions an excellent post-draft assessment on their selection of the seasoned Clemson offensive tackle by grading the first-round pick as an “A.”
Reuter’s brief analysis of the pick praised the Lions for immediately addressing their biggest need entering the draft: finding a replacement for Taylor Decker. He also lauded Miller’s proven experience, evidenced by his 54 career starts at Clemson, where the nearly 6-foot-7, 317-pounder displayed an elite level of play at a consistent rate throughout his collegiate career.
The departure of longtime starting OT Taylor Decker made it imperative for the Lions to find another offensive tackle early in the draft. Miller’s combination of experience and physicality must have endeared him to the decision-makers in Detroit, considering they passed on Georgia OT Monroe Freeling, who went two picks later. We’ll see which player has a better NFL career, but I think the Lions made the right call. – Chad Reuter, NFL.com
While the post-draft analysis can certainly inspire hope, it can also age quite poorly, as evidenced by the overall disdain from draft “experts” on the Lions’ 2023 first-round pick and now-franchise cornerstone running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Essentially, the grade’s validity will be established once the season starts and on-field production is assessed.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: NFL draft grades: Detroit Lions’ Blake Miller pick gets A
Reporting by Scout Springgate, Lions Wire / Lions Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
