Draft month, finally, has arrived.
Continuing our series, which began earlier this month and will run until the 2026 NFL Draft begins on April 23, The Detroit News will spotlight one prospect a day who could be a first-round fit for the Detroit Lions, who own the 17th overall pick. Assuming the Lions don’t trade out, it’ll be their highest selection since running back Jahmyr Gibbs went No. 12 in 2023.
Today’s focus is on Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller.
Blake Miller stats
13 appearances in 2025
14 pressures allowed (10 hurries, two quarterback hits, two sacks)
875 offensive snaps (529 pass blocking, 346 run blocking)
72 special teams snaps (52 field goal, 10 punt coverage)
Career overview
A four-star recruit in the Class of 2022 who was a multi-year starter at left tackle for Ohio’s Strongsville High School, Miller verbally pledged to Clemson in October 2020 and never wavered from that commitment. “Blake is a very quiet young man, doesn’t have much to say. Probably one of the easiest guys there was to recruit,” former Tigers offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell said in an interview with Clemson’s team website. “He knew what he wanted.” Miller played on both offense and defense as a freshman and senior at Strongsville. He ran track in 2020 and wrestled as a child, winning an Ohio Athletic Committee state championship in 2012.
Miller quickly earned a first-team role with the Tigers and became only the third true freshman since 1944 to start a season opener at offensive tackle for Clemson. He allowed 25 pressures and three sacks in his first collegiate season, according to Pro Football Focus. Miller’s pressure numbers improved in 2023 (22) and 2024 (18) before he was at his best in 2025, allowing 14 pressures and two sacks. His pass blocking efficiency (98.4), a statistic from PFF “measuring pressure allowed on a per-snap basis with weighting toward sacks allowed,” was tied for 10th among 146 qualified FBS tackles in 2025 (minimum 400 reps as pass blockers). He was also voted a team captain.
No one at Clemson has played more snaps from scrimmage than Miller (3,778), and only specialists have made more consecutive starts (54). He’s the fourth offensive lineman in program history to record All-ACC honors in three straight seasons (third team in 2023, first team in 2024 and 2025). He never missed a game at Clemson, and he was absent from only one practice because he needed surgery to repair a broken bone in his wrist. Miller, an ironman at Strongsville, has played eight seasons in a row without being sidelined.
Blake Miller NFL draft analysis
Miller (6-foot-6¾, 317 pounds) has all the tools to succeed in the NFL. His arms (34¼ inches) are longer than all but one other offensive tackle who’s receiving first-round consideration (Georgia’s Monroe Freeling has him beat by half an inch), and he flexed his athleticism at the combine, with promising results in the 40-yard dash (5.04 seconds), 10-yard split (1.75 seconds), vertical jump (32 inches), broad jump (9 feet, 5 inches) and bench press (32 reps).
At Clemson’s Pro Day in March, Miller participated in the three-cone drill (7.75 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.65), a couple of workouts aimed to demonstrate lateral mobility. His times would’ve ranked second and first among OTs at the combine, respectively. His size, measurables and testing numbers resulted in a Relative Athletic Score of 9.90 out of 10.
Most critics of Miller will first highlight his upright nature (pad level), which could be a problem against better opponents in the NFL. He also occasionally leans when taking on incoming defenders. Additionally, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler noted how Miller “delivers adequate pop but doesn’t have overwhelming power to create knock back.” His 54 starts of experience have helped Miller polish his game more than most prospects coming out of college, but by no means is he a finished product.
Lions coach Dan Campbell has been open about his willingness, and perhaps eagerness, to move Penei Sewell to the left side of the offensive line, which is where he played at Oregon. A shift in Sewell’s responsibilities would create an opening at right tackle, where Miller could come in and, ideally, start right away. He’ll have to earn it, though, with Larry Borom serving as his main competition on a one-year, $5 million deal. Rookie tackles will almost always have hiccups (even Sewell allowed 35 pressures in his first season), but if anyone from this group is going to come in and make an early impact, Miller could be the best bet.
Previous profiles
LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane
Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Texas A&M edge defender Cashius Howell
Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa
Missouri defensive end Zion Young
Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell
Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr.
Georgia linebacker CJ Allen
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq
Clemson defensive end T.J. Parker
Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling
Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman
Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey
Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs
Penn State guard Vega Ioane
Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano
Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy
Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor
Miami edge defender Akheem Mesidor
rsilva@gannett.com
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Potential Lions draft pick Blake Miller offers instant impact, upside
Reporting by Richard Silva, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
