The term "Dan Campbell guy" gets thrown around a lot. Yet, when the Detroit Lions select a physical, gritty, and experienced player committed to obliterating opposing players on the other side of the trench, sometimes "Dan Campbell guy" is the best descriptor.
So, naturally, Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions "had a lot of love" for Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller coming into the draft. Speaking to the voice of the Lions, Dan Miller of Fox 2 Sports (no relation), Campbell explained what he liked about the newest Lion:
"He's played a lot of football. He's solid, he's steady, and he can do it all. He plays physical in the run game. Freakin' smart, tough, edgy, got length, moves well. We feel like this is a guy who can come in and compete, and help us with the O-Line."
Dan Miller brought up Blake Miller's 54 starts, which Campbell said seeing that much tape resonated with him.
"There was a lot of top-tier tackles in here, and you start watching, just the closer we get to the draft, I mean, his consistency and what he was able to do. The steadiness that he provided, and it was just, man, good production week in and week out for not just one year, multiple years."
Campbell added that he and the team believe Miller has "high upside" with a "high floor" and "ceiling." Campbell also lauded Miller's physicality and versatility, making him a "really good fit" for the Lions.
Campbell's response did clue into why they favored Miller instead of Georgia's Monroe Freeling, who was also on the board when the Lions were on the clock, and it comes down to experience. Guys like Freeling only started to come into their own late in their college careers, while Miller built up starts across his multiple seasons.
The Lions OL needed a rebuild, and gambling on someone still new to the position could've had devastating results. Miller may not end up as the day one starter, but he has all the experience a team could ask for at RT coming into the NFL.
WATCH - @Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks to @DanMillerFox2 about the team's 1st round pick, offensive tackle @BlakeMillerOT pic.twitter.com/OJc3qAlFR4
— FOX 2 Sports (@FOX2Sports) April 24, 2026
Miller will still have to compete for the RT spot
Miller's selection all but ensures Penei Sewell will move over to LT, setting up competition between Miller and Larry Borom. The Lions signed Borom in the offseason to a one-year deal after his pass protection greatly improved over the course of his past season with the Miami Dolphins.
Both Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes had a lot of positive things to say about Borom in recent weeks, possibly implying that he's penciled in as the starter for now. Campbell says that he's already told Miller, "You got to come in and earn it, man." That impending competition will definitely be something to watch out for once training camp begins.
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Even if Miller enters the season as the backup RT, the Lions will have one of the deepest OL rooms in the NFL. It was a unit the team aggressively sought to rebuild this offseason, and the Miller pick becomes the cherry on top.
If Miller lives up to Campbell's hype, the Lions OL is poised to return to its dominant ways for years to come, which must be music to the ears of quarterback Jared Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
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