The Detroit Lions' first-round selection of tackle Blake Miller was needed reassurance for an offense attempting to replace Taylor Decker. Detroit's offseason answer was signing Larry Borom to a one-year, $5 million deal, making Borom the early favorite to take over for Decker. The tackle was coming off a solid season with the Miami Dolphins, allowing a pair of sacks in 404 snaps of pass protection. Still, Borom lacked the resume to give fans confidence that they had a clear replacement for Decker.
Now, Miller will presumably step into the starting role with Penei Sewell anchoring the opposite side. This likely shifts Borom into a reserve role, with the tackle's role seemingly shifting from an expected starter to the team's primary swing tackle. This position isn't without its benefits, as Dan Skipper demonstrated throughout his career with the Lions.
Skipper played 80 snaps at tight end in the 2025 season, despite being the clear backup. No question, Borom is being demoted, and the lineman is a clear loser from the draft, but this doesn't completely erase his potential to impact the offense. The Lions consistently use an extra lineman, and that will be the role that Borom now finds himself fighting for.
With the addition of Miller, Lions fans should have far more excitement around their offense. Jared Goff's lack of mobility makes pass protection incredibly important, and potentially adding a franchise player while already having Sewell at left tackle is an undeniable win in an impressive offseason reset.
Lions First-Round Selection Serves as Clear Demotion for Offseason Addition Larry Borom
Borom made 11 starts in the 2025 season. However, in the previous two years as a member of the Chicago Bears, he had combined for only 10 starts. This makes it clear that the franchise was betting on a player with a very limited sample size while playing for two franchises that have both been looking for reliable answers at tackle during Borom's tenure.
With this in mind, Detroit made the right decision, demoting the veteran and turning to a rookie who could stabilize the position for years to come. Having capable edge protection is especially important as Goff continues to age and lose what limited mobility the veteran does possess. It might be frustrating for Borom, but it is unquestionably a win for the Lions and puts the offense in a far better position.
Detroit's offseason feels far more complete now that a clear replacement for Decker has been named and a questionable starting option has been demoted. It will be interesting to watch Borom's response and whether the tackle now adjusts and steps into the role of the retired Skipper, serving as a sixth offensive lineman and swing tackle.
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