Blake Miller is heading into training camp with a real shot to grab the Lions’ right tackle job, and the rookie sounds like he knows exactly what kind of opportunity he’s walking into.
“Having guys on this staff who have played a lot of football really helps, and I love it here.”
That was Miller, speaking to ESPN’s Eric Woodyard during the offseason, as the Clemson product continued ramping up for what could be a Week 1 start for Detroit at right tackle. For a young lineman, the setup is about as good as it gets: Hank Fraley coaching him up, former Lions tackle Dan Skipper helping as an extra voice, and All-Pro former right tackle Penei Sewell there as a reference point.
Now the conversation is shifting from possibility to something more concrete. As July 25 approaches - the date rookies must report for training camp - Miller appears increasingly comfortable with the idea that he may be the one asked to fill Sewell’s old spot.
That matters because Sewell is moving to the left side of the line, a position he has played before but not since 2021 in relief of Taylor Decker. The Lions also added Larry Borom in free agency, giving them another option if Miller isn’t quite ready to hold down the job on his own.
Still, the early signs seem encouraging. Dan Campbell said Miller has kept making “these small steps every day” through the offseason, and Detroit viewed him as a possible Day 1 starter at right tackle after he worked with the first unit during veteran minicamp while Sewell shifted left.
The real test comes in camp, where Miller will get his first extended run against NFL-level defensive linemen. That’s no small assignment, especially with Detroit’s front looking healthy.
Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, and one of Derrick Moore or D.J. Wonnum will give him a serious workout, and that’s exactly the kind of proving ground that will show how far along he really is.
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Taylor Decker May Be Drifting Toward A Quiet Lions Ending
Taylor Deckers offseason has been unusually quiet for a player who spent so long as one of Detroits most dependable pieces. After requesting his release in March, the veteran left tackle is still on the market as July nears, and his reluctance to jump to a division rival like the Bears has helped narrow the list of possible fits. For now, the search is less about a splashy return than finding a place where he can still make football sense.
Pittsburgh has been mentioned as a potential landing spot because of its need at left tackle, but nothing about Deckers next step feels straightforward. He has been weighing whether the right opportunity will even come along, and the longer he remains unsigned, the more this starts to look like a situation that could end without a new destination at all. For Detroit, it leaves open the possibility that a familiar face simply fades out of the picture rather than appearing in another uniform. [Read more 🡒]
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The Lions like his experience and the presence he brings to the room, and that matters even more when a position group is trying to absorb a major shakeup. Still, Detroit may not be done looking for help at corner, which leaves Ya-Sin in a spot that is both useful and unsettled as the team tries to sort out how much it can ask from him this season. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookie Suddenly Looks Crucial In Detroits Biggest Secondary Concern
Keith Abney II was drafted to give the Lions another young piece in the secondary, but the fifth-rounder is already getting a closer look than a typical developmental corner. The rookie is expected to work primarily inside as a slot cornerback, yet his college experience on the outside gives Detroit some flexibility as minicamp helps sort out where he fits best.
That flexibility matters because the Lions do not have much certainty at cornerback right now, and Abney may be needed sooner than planned if the depth chart keeps shifting. A role that once looked like a clean fit in the nickel could expand as the season approaches, leaving Detroit to see whether the rookie can handle a bigger job if called on. [Read more 🡒]