The Detroit Lions have put all debates over which tackle they're landing in this year's draft to rest, finally selecting Blake Miller at 17th overall in the first round.
Miller lands with the team after a rise on a few big boards during the offseason thanks to his high scores at the NFL combine and the relatively large drop-off in talent in this year's tackle class.
Miller posted an overall PFF grade of 76.8 this past year with Clemson, allowing just two sacks at right tackle and through 792 snaps. And, in the interest of some Lions fans, he also took some snaps at tight end with the Tigers.
Detroit absolutely needed to swing on a high-end tackle in this year's draft, and even with Miller's warts, he's still a top prospect at the position. The team also still has some capital to trade back up, if they so choose, so this swing doesn't necessarily preclude them from further big swings.
Miller lands with Lions at 17th overall
Miller's sudden rise might give some Lions fans pause about his value to this line. However, his upside thanks to his size and athleticism is something Detroit obviously couldn't pass on.
With this pick, it feels like the Lions are going in one of two directions with Miller: they could be immediately starting him at right tackle, switching Sewell over to the left side of the line, or they can have him learn behind Larry Borom at right tackle, who they just signed in free agency.
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FanSided's big board had Miller at 39th overall, with draft writer Mike Luciano penning:
"Miller has started 54 games in his college career at multiple o-line spots, and when that experience is paired with sublime technique and athletic ability that is sure to turn heads across the league, Miller should be able to work his into a Top 50 pick despite his choopy footwork and lack of amazing power when trying to open up holes in the run game."
Miller's run blocking, as Luciano mentioned, could be worth working on in Detroit.
The Lions can now, likely, hone in on landing a defender with their next selection, which is currently their 50th overall pick. Edge rusher, safety, and cornerback remain some strong needs for defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, with finding a run-stopping rusher a top priority.
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