The Detroit Lions added a new face to their offense on Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft. With the No. 17 pick, they selected offensive lineman Blake Miller, who already looks locked in before stepping on the field.

The young lineman has shown excitement about joining the team and working under head coach Dan Campbell. Miller kept his message grounded while speaking to ESPN's Eric Woodyard.

“You know, everything I read made me more excited," Miller said. “Just kind of seeing some clips of Coach Campbell, and I already followed him beforehand.”

Campbell was appointed as the Lions' head coach on January 20, 2021. Since taking charge, he has reshaped the franchise around a culture built on toughness, accountability, and teamwork.

His leadership has been centered on changing the identity of the team, turning it into a more disciplined and competitive unit both on and off the field.

“But just digging even deeper now and seeing more and more of him,” Blake Miller added. “Like, I was ready to run through a wall at, you know, midnight last night, just listening to him talk. So, I'm so fired up to just be a part of this team, this organization, everything.”

Under his guidance, the Lions have reached major milestones that had eluded the franchise for decades.

They captured a division title for the first time since 1993, earned a playoff win for the first time since 1991, and also advanced to the NFC Championship Game in the 2023 season.

Beyond his early message in Detroit, Miller’s college career at Clemson highlights the strong development of his confidence.

How Blake Miller Grew Into a Reliable Offensive Lineman

Rather than making bold promises about immediate impact, Miller kept his message grounded while speaking to ESPN’s Eric Woodyard after being drafted.

“For me, my goal is to come in and work as hard as I can and be the best player I can be,” he said. “I want to make sure I give my best in workouts, on the field, and in the film room. At the end of the day, I just want to know I gave everything I had.”

Miller brings a strong developmental track record from Clemson, where he started at offensive tackle from 2022 through 2025.

His performance strongly improved each season, marked by a 78.5 PFF grade in 2025 along with improved discipline and durability, as he did not miss a game throughout his college career.

He began with a 71.8 overall grade in 2022, improving from 72.9 in 2023 to 75.6 in 2024, while reducing penalties along the way. His numbers align with his mindset of giving maximum effort every day.

As he enters Detroit, Miller appears focused on earning trust through daily consistency rather than instant headlines.

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Written by

Anjali Thakur

Edited by

Kalp Thaker