The Detroit Lions' roster is mostly set, especially on the offensive side of the ball. However, as much as Dan Campbell's team should love their chances, they still have to figure out their starting offensive line.
They made the bold decision to move Penei Sewell back to the left side of the line. Taylor Decker's departure left Jared Goff without a blindside protector, so they had to turn to the best right tackle in the game.
However, they still don't know what to do on the right side. Larry Borom is a placeholder and not much more, but Blake Miller is a bit raw. Will the rookie be able to take down the veteran in training camp? That will most likely be the biggest unanswered question.
Lions must give Blake Miller a chance to win the starting RT job
Blake Miller wasn't the most polished or NFL-ready tackle in this year's stacked class, but he was, by far, the best option still available by the time the Lions were on the clock. His upside is as high as others, though he may need more time to piece it together.
That said, the alternatives aren't much better. Giovanni Manu may not even be an NFL player, and Borom is a rotational piece at best. Their best bet is that Miller is ahead of schedule.
The Lions have all the weapons they need to be the most explosive scoring team in the game. With new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, Jahmyr Gibbs on a new deal, and Isaac TeSlaa ready to take a leap, they should fare much better than they did in the first year without Ben Johnson.
Nevertheless, this game is won and lost in the trenches, and failing to hold down the fort can be a catastrophe for a pocket passer like Goff. That's not a luxury you can afford with Micah Parsons and the Minnesota Vikings' aggressive blitzers in the division.
Miller is a privileged athlete with a strong build, but he's been exposed when facing bull rushes and can be a bit too vertical at times. He must work on his hand placement and balance his body better to avoid being beaten by counters and quicker rushers. That won't happen overnight, and there will be some growing pains.
Still, the Lions will probably be better off letting him grow through his mistakes and giving him a long leash as opposed to taking things slowly with him. At the end of the day, it's not like Borom can give them much more.
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