Why Blake Miller fits Detroit now The Detroit Lions drafted Clemson right tackle Blake Miller in the first round. Sunday’s Detroit Lions Podcast with Jeff Riston and guest Justin Mello zeroed in on why. Miller logged 57 career starts at Clemson, all at right tackle. That volume shows reliability and routine. Around the NFL, evaluators praised his football character. Mello called him a coach’s dream. He is quiet until football talk flips the switch. Miller’s demeanor matters. He is monotone in small talk. He comes alive in scheme. That focus aligns with the Detroit Lions and what Dan Campbell values. It is not about flash. It is about assignments, strain and finish. The culture fit looks natural. What his own words reveal Mello described a favorite moment from his pre-draft interview. He asked Miller to break down his favorite play from Clemson’s playbook. The answer poured out. Miller cited the play by name, detailed his assignment, and recalled two specific reps from one game. He said the first rep featured a better block from him. He preferred the second because it resulted in a touchdown, even though he whiffed a bit on his job. That story lands with weight. It shows recall. It shows honesty. It shows a player who puts team outcome over personal grade and still knows exactly how he must improve. That is the kind of detail that translates in the NFL. It also explains why Mello thinks Miller will be a steady, above-average starter with a real shot at elite play. Right tackle today, options tomorrow Riston said Miller will play right tackle in Detroit. Management has also talked about a move to the left side. Mello believes left or right will not matter in time because Miller is so steady. Starting him where he has 57 starts lets him hit the ground running. The Lions needed a long-term answer at tackle after the Taylor Decker situation, and Miller checks that box. Mello even projected a major second contract in four or five years, the kind teams reserve for cornerstone linemen. That confidence flows from wiring, not hype. Fans are coming around for the same reason. Miller was not viewed as a first-rounder last August. His growth since then changed the calculus. This episode distilled it cleanly. The Detroit Lions get a day-one right tackle who loves the work. They keep the door open for a left tackle move if needed. They add a player whose football character matches the locker room. That is how you build an NFL line that lasts. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #tennesseetitans #blakemiller #keldricfaulk #jimmyrolder #camward #titansoffseason Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices