The Detroit Lions will have a different look to their offensive line in 2026, most notably due to the shocking departure of veteran Taylor Decker. As a result, Detroit used its first-round draft pick on Clemson's Blake Miller to turn the page and start building toward the future.
The decision to draft Miller immediately followed Detroit's signing of Larry Borom to a one-year, $5 million deal. When you consider the high upside that Miller brings, Borom's job is certainly in jeopardy as the rookie likely steps into the starting role opposite Penei Sewell.
Quarterback Jared Goff was sacked a career-high 38 times last season, so it is clear the Lions were focused on improving the OL and giving their signal-caller some better protection. As someone who made 54 consecutive starts at Clemson, Miller's durability is hard to ignore, and he is definitely a threat to shake up the Lions from Day 1.
Blake Miller is key to Detroit's success going forward
For starters, the Lions' OL has had numerous injury issues lately and needed someone with the size and athleticism of Miller to come in and provide a spark. The addition of Miller adds more creativity up front and turns what was once viewed as a question mark into a potential strength.
Miller may not immediately be looked at as an important player on this roster or a key part to Detroit's success as an offensive lineman, but that is far from the truth. He was arguably the most athletic prospect at a position full of talented players in the draft, and is key to either helping stabilize the protection up front or adding to the recent struggles and failing to back up the first-round selection.
Following the conclusion of OTAs, head coach Dan Campbell made it clear that Miller is still learning and that nobody is cutting him any breaks on the defensive line. However, while he is still getting accustomed to what life in the NFL will be like, that level of competition is only going to prepare Miller for what is ahead and help him get a feel for the week-to-week grind.
Sure, those comments should prepare fans for a slow start from Miller, and that he could be a work in progress despite the hype coming in. After all, he plays upright most of the time, has erratic hand placement, and needs to improve his run blocking.
With that said, going up against someone like Aidan Hutchinson in practice should give him the reps he needs to better prepare himself for the road ahead and improve in those concerning areas. This is a player who set school records at Clemson with 54 consecutive starts and 3,778 career snaps from scrimmage, a clear sign of someone who has the physical traits and football IQ to fit in on this OL and potentially contribute right away.
As Campbell noted, though, Miller is still getting up to speed as his teammates continue to make things difficult for him, even without the physical aspect of pads. Until training camp gets underway and Miller gets a true feel of a padded practice and has a game or two under his belt, it is hard to entirely know if he is ready to make an immediate impact or if it will take a little time.
At the same time, it is hard to dispute the fact that he is the most important rookie on the team going into 2026. This was a big roster need following Decker's departure, and the flow of Detroit's offense hinges on him playing well as it looks to get some more stability up front to protect its QB.
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