Lions GM Brad Holmes lauds Blake Miller first-round NFL draft pick

In his post-draft media availability on Thursday night, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes praised the unique athleticism of No. 17 overall draft pick Blake Miller, who the franchise took in hopes of addressing their need for a right tackle following the release of veteran Taylor Decker.

"He just checks a lot of boxes. Really high-floor player. I actually was really intrigued. Obviously, he's big, he's tough, he's smart. He's a finisher. He has unbelievable football character, work ethic.

"Everything from a culture standpoint, he fits that. That's the easy part, but his ability is the stuff that, I mean, he's athletic. He's a good athlete, and it's hard to find guys that can move like that, that are finishers, which that's what he is," Holmes said of Miller.

While the Lions could have overreacted to the movement of other teams around them on Thursday night, the confidence in both Holmes and Dan Campbell's assessment suggests Miller is the perfect embodiment of the physical, hard-hitting culture that has been developed over the past five years in Detroit.

Day two of the NFL draft begins at 7 p.m. ET. The Lions have one day two selection—pick No. 50 overall in the second round—but Detroit owns eight more draft picks over the draft's final two days.

Holmes will look to continue bolstering Detroit's 2026 NFL Draft class with more talent as the second and third rounds get underway in Pittsburgh on Friday evening.

Here's Holmes' full NFL draft press conference following the first-round selection of Miller:

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