A.Q. Shipley is not listening to the critics of the Detroit Lions. The Super Bowl champion defended Clemson tackle Blake Miller after fans slammed the pick.

"No, I love him because he is a four-year starter and a team captain at Clemson, and every single film that I have watched of this guy, he is nasty, he is athletic, but the most important thing so many college kids don't know how to use their hands," said Shipley on The Pat McAfee Show, laying it down.

"If I can go back and teach my college self one thing, it will be throw your hands, hang on, grab, steer the ship, and control the guy," he added.

Shipley, who won the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2021, drew on his experience as an offensive lineman to explain what makes Miller stand out, giving him his due respect.

As Detroit GM Brad Holmes believes that Miller is already polished enough to contribute immediately, minimizing risk compared to other prospects. But even then, the general consensus is of the opinion that the Lions missed out on a clear chance to revamp with more upside prospects rather than choosing a high-floor lineman.

Many felt that Detroit should have rather pursued Georgia OT Monrie Freeling or a wide receiver to boost Jared Goff’s offense, and thus it was an opportunity wasted.

But what does this new signing mean for Larry Borom?

Miller’s Draft Puts Larry Borom in Quite a Predicament

As the Lions took the safe option of picking Miller out of the available fray of Monroe Freeling, Max Iheanachor, and Caleb Lomu, it shows that they chose to side with someone consistent. Racking up 54 consecutive starts for Clemson, Miller showcased his durability, which caught everyone's attention.

Now that means Borom will be officially on thin ice even before taking a shot with the Lions. The veteran, it seems, will be playing second fiddle behind a rookie in his first year with Detroit.

Detroit chose to go with longevity rather than flashiness, as they felt Miller would be better suited. He's an additional youth injection for their offensive line as Penei Sewell begins to get up there in age, and as Detroit gets younger overall in their trenches.

It goes without saying that both Miller and Borom will be pitted against each other in camp for the RT1 role. While Miller holds the edge over Borom, the latter does have the veteran instinct with six years of NFL experience and is a very reliable depth tackler.

As the Lions look to rebuild, they are studying every possibility that they can exploit in the team and get their combinations right because once the season starts, the pressure of the schedule won't allow them the time to get their roster combinations in order.

Read more at Detroit Lions Community!

Written by

Sourav Ganguly

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason