Blake Miller – Lions Lowdown

Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley optimistic about new-look line

ALLEN PARK — Inconsistency was an issue for the Detroit Lions last season and one reason they were watching the playoffs instead of playing in them.

The offensive line has been addressed through the offseason and while it’s early, Hank Fraley, run game coordinator/offensive line coach, has reason to be optimistic about improvements.

“I like where we’re headed, we’ll see where we’re at, we’re still just in underwear there’s a lot of unknowns still, but I love the direction we’re heading in,’’ Fraley said at Tuesday’s veteran minicamp.

Last year the line did not live up to its high standards which are set by coach Dan Campbell.

“If we’re not living up to those standards ourselves then we’re not going to have the year we want to have,’’ Fraley said. “Really the thing I’m harping on these guys, it’s not necessarily always the strongest, the fastest, the most talented but you’ve got to be consistent. If you look back over last year we weren’t as consistent as we need to be in certain things, certain times, we’ve got to get that cleaned up and be more detailed.’’

Fraley, who was an NFL center for 11 seasons, says playing O-line involves a mindset.

“There’s not too many sports where you get to walk out and you get to bully people,’’ Fraley said. “Offensive linemen, the mentality is being a bully between those white lines and we can be as nice as we want once we get off the field.’’

While positions are not set in stone, the projected line could feature Penei Sewell at left tackle, Christian Mahogany at left guard, Cade Mays at center, Tate Ratledge at right guard and rookie Blake Miller at right tackle. Competition in training camp at guard could change the projections.

Sewell is making the transition from right tackle to fill the shoes of Taylor Decker.

“I told him it’s like riding a bike, you can go years without riding a bike mentally then you get on a bike you have to find your balance, your timing a little bit, how you pedal how, you do all that,’’ Fraley said. “It’s been a long time since he’s done it continually He’s transitioned pretty smoothly everybody knows he’s a great athlete — takes great pride in his work.’’

Mays, who has played in 52 NFL games (27 starts) since he was drafted in the sixth round by Carolina in 2022, gives more veteran presence.

Miller, the Lions’ first-round draft pick, has impressed Fraley so far. While he’s making some mistakes ,when he does make one it’s mental and he’s able to adjust and clean it up.

The run game also suffered last season which, of course, affects the whole offense. Fraley said the offense has to earn the right to run the ball to get the coordinator to call the next run and establish it.

The Lions wrap up the two-day veteran minicamp on Wednesday and then will be off until training camp starts in July.

Lions draft Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore in second round

ALLEN PARK — Another team captain drafted, another need filled

Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes traded to move up six spots in the second round of the NFL draft, to draft EDGE Derrick Moore on Friday night.

Detroit swapped its 50th and 128th picks to the N.Y. Jets to select Moore, a team captain at Michigan, at 44.

In Thursday’s first round the Lions drafted offensive tackle Blake Miller who was a team captain at Clemson.

“We’re really, really excited. It’s hard to find guys – I’m not going to say we’re picky – but we just have a certain type that we like,’’ Holmes said.

So far in this draft the needs lined up with the best players which does not always happen.

“We’ve always said we’re going to take the best player. Look if there was – I’m sure there were other tackles available, and other edge rushers available – but these were the guys we liked,’’ Holmes said.

The Lions finished last season at 9-8 and out of the playoffs. Bolstering the offensive and defensive lines was a priority in the offseason.

Moore stood apart from the other EDGE rushers available for several reasons.

“We’ve been pretty clear about what the requirements are at that position for us and he fits that,’’ Holmes said. “He’s a physical player, he can set hard edges, his pass rush greatly improved. When I look at Derrick — much similar to Blake Miller who we took yesterday — in terms of watching him for a long time. I’ve always felt the length, and physicality and power and pads (were there), but I didn’t really feel like his rush was quite there yet but this year he really got better.’’

He noted that Moore’s improved pass rush stood out during Senior Bowl week.

Moore said he considers Detroit a second home and looks forward to playing with Aidan Hutchinson, another Michigan product.

“I’m definitely excited to play with Hutch,’’ Moore said. “Hopefully I can learn a lot from him and we can go and cause a lot of havoc.’’

Moore, who is 6-4 and 255 pounds, was first-team All-Big Ten in 2025 with a dozen starts, leading the team with 10.5 TFLs and 10 sacks. In 2024 he was honorable mention All-Big Ten starting 12 games with 23 tackles, 6 TFLs with 4 sacks and two PBUs).

One draft analyst on Moore: “Swallows quarterbacks and runners like a crashing wave once he’s close.’’

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein scouting report reads: “Edge prospect with good size and length. Moore is far more active and engaged as a rusher than he is as a run defender. He has the ability to set firm edges, but his approach against the run can lack urgency. Against the pass, Moore is a bull-rush aficionado, piling up pressures and sacks. He’s strong through the top of the rush but needs to prove he can consistently stress long, well-anchored tackles. When it’s time to finish, he tackles with reliable technique and timing. If Moore cranks up the fire on all three downs, he can become a good full-time player. Either way, he projects as a starter capable of racking up pressures.”

Moore was the first Michigan player selected in the 2026 draft.

The Lions have six picks remaining: a fourth (118th overall), two fifths (157 and 181), two sixths (205 and 213) and a seventh (222). Saturday’s draft begins at noon.

Lions OT Blake Miller was sweating it out, learning about toughness as a 2nd-grade wrestler

First-round draft pick has credentials sought by Detroit

ALLEN PARK — Blake Miller’s first lessons in toughness and grit came from a no-nonsense coach on his second-grade wrestling team.

“He’d have us in the wrestling room with the heat all the way up to 95 degrees running around, I’m just a little second-grader,’’ Miller said during his introductory press conference. “He preached not quitting, he preached toughness and I feel like that kind of stuck with me. You want to be a guy who’s tough, you want to be a guy who’s going to finish and not crumble and stuff. It’s hard.’’

It was a small beginning but it apparently planted the seed in Miller, an offensive tackle who is known for his work ethic, toughness and grit. It all appealed to the Detroit Lions who drafted Miller with their first-round pick (17th overall) on Thursday night. It’s expected that Penei Sewell will move to left tackle and Miller will start at right tackle where he played for four years at Clemson.

Miller credits his father and mother, Chris and Karen, for instilling his work ethic.

“I really thank my parents for seeing them my whole life— they’re mortgage and real estate agents. They work around the clock. They were always there for their clients. Seeing the work ethic they had – everyday working as hard as you could. I kinda feel I owe it to them to apply that above and beyond.’’

His folks and girlfriend Kylie Jicha, made the short trip from their home in Strongsville, Ohio, (near Cleveland) to Allen Park on Friday.

Since he got the big news on Thursday night, Miller said he watched more videos of coach Dan Campbell.

“Everything he says gets you fired up,’’ MIller said. “You listen to him speak, you can hear the passion in his voice, you can hear the character in his voice. That resonantes with me, it gets me fired up, it gets me ready to go.’’

Miller never missed a game in his four years at Clemson, under coach Dabo Swinney, which he said prepared him for the NFL.

“A lot of similarities in terms of they really value toughness, they value finish, they value grit. That’s something that was emphasized to me in college,’’ Miller said. “Just being here today, it really resonates with me. It gets me excited. I can’t say enough good things about coach Sweeney. I can’t say enough good things about Coach Campbell. They’re two incredible coaches.’’

Swinney started Miller (6-foot-7, 317 pounds) as a freshman and coached him all four years. He knew Miller had what it takes to make it to the NFL right out of the gate.

“He was made in a lab, if you’re looking for an offensive tackle. God was in a good mood when he made him. It was offensive tackle day,’’ Swinney said in a conference call on Friday. “He can run, he can play in space, he can pull and, again, he’s got what you can’t coach. He’s got some things that some of my better tackles over the years have been downgraded on a bit – that natural length and size and the strength to go along with it.’’

Miller, who was rated in the top five or six of offensive tackles in the draft, filled a need for Detroit. He said he never worried about where he fit in.

“I was making sure I was being the best version of me every day,’’ MIller said. “I think comparison is the thief of joy. So just focusing on my process day in and day out.’’