The Lions’ choice at 17 is looking better by the week, and Blake Miller keeps making the case that Detroit saw something real when it passed on Monroe Freeling.
Last year’s draft had plenty of noise around the tackle decision. Miller was the pick at No. 17 overall, while Freeling went two selections later to the Carolina Panthers.
From the outside, it was the kind of call people love to argue over. Inside Detroit, though, the logic was simpler: the Lions valued both players, but Miller came with more tackle experience, and that ultimately pushed him to the front.
Dan Campbell explained that the team had strong grades on both linemen and saw similar traits in each. “We held both in high regard.
There was so much to it. High grades on both.
What they're able to do, the athleticism, the length, the power in the run game, all those things. Blake had taken a ton of reps.
That was a little bit more of what it came to. Freeling is doing a good job and he's going to continue to grow just like our guy is.
The more reps you get, the better you get. So that's really what it came down to, just more experience over a four-year period starting at tackle, Both really good tackles, athletic, traits, skill, all of it.”
So far, Detroit’s decision looks justified. Miller has settled in as a solid piece on a rebuilt offensive line, and the Lions have won both games he has played in while looking strong on offense. When he was out, the whole operation slipped against the Buffalo Bills.
Freeling’s early run in Carolina has been shakier. He had a rough Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns and has looked more like a rookie than Miller has through the opening stretch. He is also in concussion protocol ahead of Week 4, though head coach Dave Canales said he hopes to have him back for that game.
That comparison is likely to stick, simply because both players were taken so close together. But right now, Miller has the edge on the field, and the Lions appear to have landed the more polished, NFL-ready tackle they needed.
What makes the pick even more encouraging for Detroit is how Miller talks about his own game. After his first game of the season, he didn’t hand out himself a quick, easy grade. He dug into the details, pointing out what still needed work in both phases.
“I could go on forever about things I want to improve. I think it's satisfying to see progress from preseason games to that first game.
There's plenty to clean up from a technique standpoint. Being under control on certain blocks, knowing when I can and can't run off the ball and really get into guys versus being a little more controlled (and) have my feet under me.”
“Pass protection, I felt like there were some reps I could have anchored a bull rush quicker, taking a smarter set. Just continuing to learn the offense, when I can and can't be aggressive with my sets.
I could go on forever, but there's plenty of clean up. To me that's the fun part.
Going week after week (and) being able to see yourself after a season and be like, 'Wow, I improved this much and I became a better player because of the work.' That's satisfying.”
That kind of self-scouting is exactly what the Lions said they were betting on when they drafted him. The play has backed it up, and the mindset has too. For Detroit, the Miller-over-Freeling debate is starting to look less like a debate and more like a smart call that’s aging well.
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The immediate assignment, though, is straightforward enough. Detroit is focused on keeping Bryce Young from settling in, and Campbell said the biggest defensive concern beyond that is handling tight ends in the middle of the field. He also raised the possibility of rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder getting defensive snaps, a reminder that the Lions may not be done adjusting the group as they balance short-term needs with longer-term decisions. [Read more 🡒]
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What happens after that will be the part Detroit is watching most closely. The Lions would then have the 21-day window to work through before deciding on activation, and Kelvin Sheppards recent comments about the defense and its preparation only add to the sense that the unit is bracing for a potentially meaningful addition. For a team trying to keep its defensive rhythm intact, Branchs return would be one of the more notable developments on the horizon. [Read more 🡒]
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What makes the calculus trickier is that the answer may not be about those players alone. The Lions also have to factor in how younger talent is coming along and whether injuries create new pressure points before the deadline arrives. If those developments keep breaking the right way, Detroit could find itself making some difficult calls on useful pieces rather than simply adding help. [Read more 🡒]