The Detroit Lions were focused on taking an offensive tackle in the first round of this year's NFL draft, and when they got on the clock at Pick No. 17, they had their choice of two top talents, Clemson's Blake Miller and Georgia's Monroe Freeling.
The Lions took the polished Miller with their pick. Freeling went two picks later to the Carolina Panthers. And the two tackles will be in the spotlight when the Lions and Panthers meet this weekend on Sunday Night Football.
"Obviously, we held both in high regard," Lions coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday, Sept. 30. "We did. And there was so much to it. High grades on both. Really, really – man, what they're both able to do, the athleticism, the length, the power in the run game, all those things."
Campbell said the Lions favored Miller over Freeling in the draft because of his experience.
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Miller was considered a plug-and-play starter in the NFL at the Lions' biggest position of need, right tackle. He made 54 starts at the position in four seasons at Clemson and set a school record for most snaps from scrimmage.
Freeling started just 17 college games, primarily at left tackle, and was considered a less refined prospect, albeit with more athleticism and upside.
"I think probably for us it was just Blake, he's taken a ton of reps," Campbell said. "That was a little bit more of what it's come to is, and Freeling is, listen, he's doing a good job and he's going to continue to grow just like our guy is. The more reps you get, the better you get. And so that's really what it came down to, just more experience over a four-year period at starting at tackle. That's it. But both really good tackles, athletic, traits, skill, all of it.”
Both Miller and Freeling have been Day 1 starters in the NFL, with Miller playing every snap at right tackle in the two games he's played for the Lions – he missed a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills with a right knee injury – and Freeling playing the same position in Carolina.
Freeling has allowed two sacks, according to Pro Football Focus, and been flagged for two penalties, while Miller hasn't allowed a sack and has one false start penalty
The Panthers released a behind-the-scenes video after the draft in which their front office seemed to indicate they expected the Lions to take Freeling at 17. When the Lions took Miller instead, the Panthers' draft room erupted in celebration.
The Lions, of course, got their preferred tackle, and Campbell said Miller has been "what we thought he would be" to this point, "a consistent, steady player for a young guy."
"He's never too high, he's never too low," Campbell said. "And look, he's not perfect, but, man, he is growing and getting better, and he’s just, he is, he's steady and consistent for a young guy. So we love where he's at right now.”
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions took Blake Miller over Monroe Freeling in draft, happy they did
