Taylor Decker's contractual impasse forced the Detroit Lions to alter their plans for the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead of targeting pass-rushing help or someone to help the defense, they had to pivot to the offensive line.
Notably, that led them right to one of the most athletic and intriguing prospects in the class. Blake Miller can probably play on both sides of the line, though they're doing the right thing by moving Penei Sewell to left tackle while he figures things out.
They also have newcomer Larry Borom to handle starting duties if he's not ready right out of the gate. However, even if that's the case, one thing's for sure: Miller's presence has made Giovanni Manu expendable in Detroit.
The Lions must pull the plug on the Giovanni Manu experiment
Manu's arrival in Detroit was always a polarizing subject. He was a raw prospect coming out of a Canadian college, and it seemed that he was two years away from making an impact, at the very least.
The third-round pick didn't suit up as a rookie, and he suffered a knee injury in his second year in the league. All in all, he played a grand total of 69 snaps in his two years with the team, with 62 coming in the single game he started last season.
The Lions can't afford to be patient with him or develop him. And with only so many roster spots available, there's simply no reason to keep him any longer. Miller should be the future at the position, and he should get as many reps as he can handle, regardless of whether he starts in Week 1.
Cutting Manu loose would have virtually non-existent financial repercussions for this team, for better or worse. That said, there's simply no point in keeping a third-year player who might still be a year away from being playable.
The Lions will move the best right tackle in football back to the left side to be Jared Goff's blindside protector, and they can have an absolute athletic freak and elite climber opposite him if Miller lives up to his potential.
Teams with Super Bowl aspirations should focus mostly on NFL-ready guys who can help right away, and those who questioned this pick were right all along. Now, there's no need to drag this any longer. Let's just cut our losses and put that roster spot to actual use with someone else.
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