The Detroit Lions used the No. 17 overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft to select offensive tackle Blake Miller from Clemenson University, marking the franchise’s highest draft slot since taking running back Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 in 2023.
Miller, a durable and experienced lineman, leaves Clemson as one of the most decorated offensive tackles in program history.
Newly-selected @Lions T @BlakeMillerOT is the team's first-ever 1st round pick from @ClemsonFB.
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) April 24, 2026
The only other tackles from @ClemsonTigers that Detroit has ever drafted were Dave Thompson (30th overall in 1971) and Dick Marazza (254th overall in 1956).#OnePride pic.twitter.com/BNwESD4BzD
He earned Freshman All-American honors in 2022 after starting all 14 games at right tackle, immediately establishing himself as a cornerstone on the offensive line.
Miller followed with a third-team All-ACC selection in 2023, again starting every game.
His development continued in 2024, when he was named first-team All-ACC after starting 14 games, including one at left tackle.
Miller capped his collegiate career in 2025 with another first-team All-ACC honor, starting all 13 games at right tackle while setting a school record with 54 consecutive starts by a non-specialist.
He also set Clemson’s record for career snaps, a statistic the program has tracked since 1986.
At 6-foot-6 with long arms and quick feet, Miller brings a blend of size and mobility that has intrigued scouts. Considered an “iron man” along the offensive front, he shows unusual lateral quickness and fluidity in space, allowing him to execute combo blocks and reach linebackers effectively.
His snap quickness and ability to mirror pass rushers have made him a reliable presence in pass protection.
Miller demonstrates strong awareness against defensive line twists and stunts, consistently passing off assignments with proper timing. He also has the athleticism to recover when initially beaten, often scrambling to re-engage defenders and finish plays with physicality.
However, concerns remain about his technique as he transitions to the professional level.
Miller tends to play too upright, which can impact his leverage and power.
His hand placement and accuracy are inconsistent, leaving him vulnerable to edge rushers who can exploit those lapses.
Improving his pad level, core strength, and overall technique will be critical to his success in the NFL.
Despite those areas for improvement, the Lions are betting on Miller’s durability, athletic traits, and experience as a high-floor addition to their offensive line.
With refinement, he projects as a potential long-term starter at right tackle.
Miller also comes from a football family.
His brother, Storm, is set to join Texas A&M as a linebacker recruit in 2026.
The selection comes after a turbulent 2025 season in which Detroit finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs, a steep drop from 2024, when the Lions went 15-2, earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and were eliminated by the Washington Commanders 45-31 in the Divisional Round.
With the 17th pick of the 2026 @NFLDraft, the @Lions have selected @ClemsonFB T @BlakeMillerOT.
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) April 24, 2026
Miller owns the @ClemsonTigers program record for snaps from scrimmage (3,778) and consecutive starts (54).#OnePride pic.twitter.com/LTlmiatmjN
Lions’ recent playoff history
The heartbreak stretches back further.
In the 2023-24 postseason, Detroit reached the NFC Championship Game but squandered a 24-7 halftime lead, ultimately falling to the San Francisco 49ers 34-31.
General Manager Brad Holmes addressed the team’s offseason evaluation process with candor, acknowledging inconsistency as a defining issue of the 2025 campaign.
“You always have to evolve,” Holmes said. “And when you don’t get the desired results, you’ve got to just look at everything.”
Holmes emphasized that the organization will examine all offseason decisions and processes, but that the foundational identity and type of players sought will remain the same.
→ What Detroit Lions General Manager Brad Holmes said during NFL Scouting Combine
Holmes and Dan Campbell are looking to replenish the roster and return to their winning ways with the No. 17 pick, which was the highest draft slot they’ve had since drafting running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 12 overall selection in 2023.
Lions’ 2026 draft capital
Detroit enters the draft with nine total picks: one in the first round, one in the second, two in the fourth, two in the fifth, two in the sixth, and one in the seventh.
Notably absent is a third-round selection.
The Lions traded two third-rounders, including a compensatory pick tied to former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s departure to become head coach of the New York Jets, to the Jacksonville Jaguars in order to move up and select wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa in the third round of the 2025 draft.
Detroit also received an extra 2026 sixth-round pick in that deal.
The Lions’ extra fourth-round pick came via a trade that sent running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans during the offseason.
Detroit also received a compensatory fifth-round pick after offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler departed in free agency ahead of the 2025 season.
An additional sixth-round pick came in the deal that sent wide receiver Tim Patrick to Jacksonville.
Detroit’s seventh-round pick came from the Cleveland Browns as part of a 2024 trade deadline deal that moved pass rusher Za’Darius Smith to Cleveland.
Lions first round picks by Brad Holmes, Dan Campbell
- 2025 (No. 28 overall): DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State.
- 2024 (No. 24 overall): CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama.
- 2023 (No. 12 overall): RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama.
- 2023 (No. 18 overall): LB Jack Campbell, Iowa.
- 2022 (No. 2 overall): EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan.
- 2022 (No. 12 overall): WR Jameson Williams, Alabama.
- 2021 (No. 7 overall): OT Penei Sewell, Oregon.
Lions 2026 NFL draft picks
Here’s the complete list of the Lions’ remaining picks in the 2025 NFL draft:
- Round 1: Offensive tackle Blake Miller, No. 17 overall.
- Round 2: No. 50.
- Round 4: No. 118.
- Round 4: No. 128 (from Houston).
- Round 5: No. 157.
- Round 5: No. 181 (compensatory pick).
- Round 6: No. 205 (from Jacksonville).
- Round 6: No. 213 (from Seattle).
- Round 7: No. 222 (from Cleveland).