The Lions didn’t need long to find out what they had in Blake Miller.
Detroit spent the No. 17 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on the offensive tackle, and the move looked like a steady, trench-first bet from the start. After just 54 preseason snaps, it already looks like a strong one. Miller has stepped straight into the starting right tackle job and hasn’t given it back.
That quick rise is why Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic included him among the NFL’s biggest rookie winners this preseason. Baumgardner noted, "The Lions expected Miller to compete with veteran Larry Borom at right tackle, opposite Penei Sewell.
That really hasn’t happened, as Miller simply took the job and hasn’t let go. He’s a better athlete than former Lions OT Taylor Decker and a potential upgrade as a run blocker."
For Detroit, that kind of early stability matters. With Miller on the right side, Penei Sewell on the left, and Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany expected to take another step on the interior, the Lions have a real chance to get their offensive line back to being one of the league’s top units.
Miller hasn’t been perfect, of course. He has allowed three pressures in two preseason appearances, though none became sacks.
But the bigger picture has been overwhelmingly positive. He’s held up in pass protection, shown strength in the run game, and looked like a rookie who belongs from the jump.
That quiet, steady presence is exactly what the Lions wanted. Miller was supposed to push Borom for a spot.
Instead, he made the competition look settled almost immediately. For an offensive lineman, fading into the background is usually a good sign.
Dan Campbell put it plainly after Detroit’s preseason opener: "I didn't feel like my eyes were ever on he or Larry (Borom). And that's a positive.
That's a pretty good sign. They're handling their business because I didn't feel like we had any issues on the perimeter with those two guys in there.
But I thought (Miller) did a good job."
Detroit is asking a lot of Miller early, but so far he’s answered every challenge. If his preseason work carries over, the Lions may have landed exactly what they were hoping for with that pick.
In Other News...
Lions Add To Crowded O Line Picture With Another Intriguing Move
The Lions kept adding to an already busy offensive line mix by signing former Buccaneers lineman Elijah Klein to the practice squad. A sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Klein has already appeared in 26 games with one start, giving Detroit another young blocker with some pro experience to evaluate as the roster takes shape.
Detroit has plenty of offensive linemen around the building between the active roster and the practice squad, so this is less about a clear immediate role and more about creating competition and depth. For Klein, the next step will be figuring out where he fits in a group that is already crowded, which makes his path with the Lions worth watching as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Branch Could Give Lions Defense A Huge Early Lift
Brian Branchs arrival on the sideline this fall is still expected to come with a delay, but the Lions have reason to believe the wait wont be a long one. The versatile defensive back is slated to open the 2026 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list after the Achilles injury he suffered in December 2025, a setback that would normally cloud a players early-season availability much more heavily than this one appears to.
Branchs recovery has reportedly been moving in the right direction, and there is already a sense he could be back at practice after only two weeks on PUP. If that timetable holds, Detroit could be talking about getting one of its most valuable defensive pieces back by Week 6 or Week 7, a boost that would matter even more given how much the unit leans on his range and flexibility compared with the situation around Kerby Joseph. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Still Have One Notable Opening Week Question To Answer
The Lions opening-week roster picture settled quickly enough on paper, but one move still stands out from the cutdown process. Detroit released veteran wide receiver Greg Dortch during roster cuts, a decision that caught some fans and analysts off guard, and he has since landed on the Buffalo Bills practice squad. Even with the rest of the depth chart taking shape, the clubs handling of players with return experience made it clear that this spot was not treated like an afterthought.
Return duties remain one of the more interesting loose ends for Detroit as the season approaches. The Lions also moved on from other players who had handled returns before, which suggests the coaching staff is still weighing alternatives rather than simply handing the job to the most obvious candidate. For a team trying to maximize every hidden-yardage advantage, that choice could matter once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]