It feels like so long ago when the only active topic of discussion was which offensive lineman the Detroit Lions should take in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Everyone knew that was the direction general manager Brad Holmes and the Lions were going to go, it was only a matter of who. Was it Monroe Freeling? Kadyn Proctor? Spencer Fano? Max Iheanachor?
The choice was ultimately Blake Miller out of Clemson, a right tackle who didn't miss a game in his four collegiate years. Six games in, it's not only proving to be the correct choice, but one that has exceeded even optimistic rookie year projections.
For ESPN's Week 8 Power Rankings, team writers share who has been their respective team's best offseason addition. Eric Woodyard picked Miller over other additions like EDGE D.J. Wonnum, center/guard Juice Scruggs, or offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
"Detroit drafted Miller as the No. 17 pick to be a Day 1 starter, and the 22-year-old has lived up to the hype. He took on star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson during training camp, and he hasn't allowed a sack in five games this season (primarily at right tackle). Meanwhile, Detroit's offense is producing the second-most points in the league (30.67 per game) behind the Bills (32.83). Miller still has room to grow, as he has committed five penalties this season."Eric Woodyard, ESPN
Miller's addition gave the Lions confidence to move former right tackle Penei Sewell over the left tackle. Through six games at the new position, Sewell looks better than ever, grading as the top OT on Pro Football Focus (90.1) and well en route to a Hall of Fame-clinching fourth First-Team All-Pro selection.
That ripple effect has extended across the O-line, which is playing almost lights out this season outside of those dastardly slow starts. It's allowed both quarterback Jared Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs to play some of the best football of their careers. Entering Week 8, Goff still hasn't thrown an interception, while Gibbs is on a record-breaking yards from scrimmage pace.
If the Lions whiffed on this first round pick, much of that may not have been possible. Yes, this O-line turnaround has been much more than just the addition of Miller, but him being a home run pick so far helped accelerate that turnaround.
And this is just year one!
Miller still has room to grow
Miller has held up well on the right side for a rookie, at a position historically difficult to adjust to at the NFL level. As Woodyard mentions, Miller has yet to allow a sack this season, forming a pass-blocking brick wall with second year guard Tate Ratledge, who hasn't allowed a sack this year, and only two in his career.
PFF has Miller down for giving up 12 pressures and two QB hits, which are his only pass-blocking blemishes. PFF has Miller as the 16th-best pass-blocking tackle, with a 76.0 grade. He hasn't been perfect. His run-blocking grade sits at 59.4 (47th of 71 tackles), and was one of the big reasons why Gibbs was often met by Green Bay Packers' defenders at or behind the line of scrimmage this past Sunday.
READ MORE: Lions' defense earns a surprising designation after a huge Week 7 victory
And as Woodyard said, Miller has been called for five penalties: four false starts and one ineligible man downfield. Four of those five penalties have come in the second half and only once was he penalized in Lions' territory. Four of those penalties also came on first or second down, and three coming when the Lions had five or fewer yards to go.
But MIller is a rookie. That just how it goes. He's going to be tested, and will especially be so on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. So far, he's passed the test and very much looks the part of a RT. If he's this effective this early in his rookie season, then Lions fans should start to get really excited about the next decade of the Sewell-Miller tandem.
Add us as a preferred source on Google