As we reach one week past the 2026 NFL Draft, we're beginning to get a bit of a bounce back from analysts on the Detroit Lions' class. While it might've felt boring in the immediate aftermath of their picks, it's clear now that the Lions did one of the best jobs last weekend at filling roster needs effectively.
There's no better way to utilize the draft if you're a contender like the Lions picking deeper in each round. And, their Day 1 selection is pretty great proof of just how well you can still draft despite picking all the way at 17th overall.
Blake Miller out of Clemson was the Lions' pick in the first round, and he is expected to immediately start at right tackle for Detroit. But, there was some reporting after the draft on the Lions' interest in trading up, all the way to 13th overall, to try and secure a tackle. That tackle would've likely been Kadyn Proctor, although, Proctor's not even expected to play tackle his rookie year.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler collected intel from NFL execs about all 32 teams' draft classes, and for the Lions, executives seem to be impressed by their selection of Miller.
"The expectation in league circles was that at least four tackles would go in the top 15 to 17 picks. Moving up two to four spots was an option for Detroit, which landed Clemson right tackle Blake Miller at No. 17. Alabama's Kadyn Proctor was believed to be a target for Detroit. But Miller's name was magma-hot late in the process. 'He's the best tackle in the draft,' said one NFC exec."
Lions may have landed best tackle in the class (but it's too soon to tell)
Proctor's set to play guard for the Miami Dolphins, while Francis Mauigoa - taken 10th overall by the New York Giants - is also expected to begin his career as a guard. That leaves Miller, Spencer Fano, Monroe Freeling, and Max Iheanachor as the only tackles taken in the first round that could potentially stay at tackle in Year 1.
Of those four, Fano could still end up at guard, while Freeling and Iheanachor are players that scouts were in love with due to their athleticism and size, and not necessarily their NFL readiness.
READ MORE: Ranking the Lions' 5 defensive draft selections by their chances of starting
Miller, with his 52 career starts and refusal to miss games (or practices), was the obviously best fit for the Lions' timeline and needs.
Of course, we won't really know if that fit translates to the field until the preseason and the kickoff to the regular season. That's why it's hard to give draft grades - how can you grade a pick without having a crystal ball? Still, the draft is about sticking to your convictions and taking a swing on what teams think are their best bets for establishing a winning culture. Miller, on paper, fits that bill.
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