Lions draft pick Blake Miller explains ‘happenstance’ path to becoming a right tackle originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 NFL Draft always produces some great stories and new Detroit Lions offensive tackle Blake Miller has a good one.
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Miller, who was the No. 17 pick of the Lions on Thursday night, played right tackle in college, and his path to becoming one was interesting.
After playing at left tackle in high school, Miller revealed that he ended up as a right tackle simply because he chose the shorter warm-up line upon arriving at practice at Clemson.
From there, his position was solidified.
“All throughout high school, I was a left tackle,” Miller said. “I get to Clemson and I look, and the way we did warm-up lines, obviously, we had left tackle, left guard, center, right guard, right tackle.
“And the warm-up line was whoever was in there, and so (the right tackle) line was a little shorter, and just kind of by happenstance hopped in there, started repping there. With God’s grace, it worked out for me.”
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Miller went on to become a stalwart at right tackle for Clemson and is now heading to Detroit to continue his football career with the Lions.
“He’s made in a lab if you’re looking for an offensive tackle. God was in a good mood when he made him,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said of Miller.
Penei Sewell or Blake Miller at left tackle?
Of course, Penei Sewell has played at right tackle his entire career, and he is arguably the very best in the NFL at his position.
With Miller’s college experience coming on the right side, the expectation is that Sewell will switch to left tackle, a transition he should have no issue with.
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It was pretty much expected that would be the case, anyway, after the Lions parted ways with Taylor Decker earlier this offseason.
The Lions can only hope Miller will be anywhere near as good as Sewell.
Judging from his impressive college career, Miller has a good chance to at least come close.
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