Testing & Lions' Athletic Benchmarks

Detroit Lions Podcast: OT Draft Fits for the Lions November Draft Lens From the Detroit Lions Podcast

It is late November and the Detroit Lions conversation already includes the NFL Draft. Playoff expectations sit high, but roster building never sleeps. The focus here is offensive tackle. Four names came up. Three look like fits for Detroit. One does not. Two earned deep dives, and both would impact the trenches in different ways.

The Lions value athletic thresholds, positional movement skills, and verified testing. Measurements matter. So does tape that shows recovery, spatial control, and finish. Day 1 versus Day 2 will hinge on those numbers. Early Day 2 is a sweet spot if the board and need align. Brad Holmes has shown a willingness to maneuver when a specific player matches the profile.

Caleb Tiernan’s Decker-Style Fit at Left Tackle

Caleb Tiernan of Northwestern checks boxes that tie directly to Taylor Decker’s role. He is a left tackle with real experience and Detroit roots at Country Day. He carries a big frame at six foot seven and 329 pounds. The size looks honest. The game reflects it.

Tiernan is not the smoothest mover, but he is coordinated and functional. He gets into space, engages, and finishes. He uses his length well and fires his hands with improving placement. If he loses early, he knows how to recover. That ability shows on film and matters on Sundays. The profile reads leader with grit and snarl. The style echoes Decker’s steady control more than twitchy flash.

On consensus boards he sits near 62. On a sharper internal board he ranks 39. That places him squarely in the second round. For the Detroit Lions, that screams early Day 2 consideration. It might be earlier than their natural slot, which invites the familiar question about moving up. Athletic testing will be important. He is the least athletic of the discussed quartet, but not a bad athlete. If the numbers clear Detroit’s benchmarks, the fit stays strong.

Blake Miller’s Surge and a Right Tackle Contrast

Blake Miller of Clemson brings a different energy. A four-year starter at right tackle with a small taste of left tackle, he is an ascending talent. The tape this season is the best he has played. Footwork pops. Hips and shoulders sync. He keeps his feet alive and wins in space. He seals corners. He down blocks with force. The athletic profile is real and functional in the open field.

Miller’s arc shifted from a summer fifth or sixth round projection to a top-20 grade on that same internal board. Consensus has him near 65. The weight is the pivot. He was listed at 295 in spring. He is pushing 300 now. If he hits 305 to 310 by the combine, first round is on the table. The style differs from Penei Sewell. Miller is more speed and space than pure power. That contrast can work in Detroit’s ecosystem.

Two tackles. Two lanes to upgrade depth and plan succession. As the Detroit Lions press forward, the offensive line remains the identity. The draft will offer answers at left tackle and right tackle. The board already hints at where to look.

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